Ich habe genug

I am content.
I have taken the Savior, the hope of the Gentiles,
into my yearning arms.
I am content.

I have seen him,
my faith has held Jesus to my heart;
now I desire even today to depart
with joy from this place.
I am content.

Ich habe genug.
Ich habe den Heiland, das Hoffen der Frommen,
auf meinen begiergen Arme genommen;
Ich habe genug.

Ich hab ihn erblickt,
mein Glaube hat Jesum ans Herze gedrückt,
nun wünsch ich noch heute mit Freuden
von hinnen zu scheiden.
Ich habe genug.

Piano / Director: Kavi Pau
Bansuri: Teymour Housego
Singer: John Holland-Avery
Baroque Cello: Poppy Walshaw

We’ve arranged this cantata by Bach for bansuri, piano, baroque cello and singer!

Bach wrote more than 200 cantatas in his lifetime. These are sung pieces, often religious in nature and involving a choir with instrumental accompaniment. ‘Ich habe genug’ however does not feature a choir and is instead scored for a solo bass singer.

The words and the bass voice reflect the biblical story of Simeon who is content to die after witnessing the young Jesus Christ. The bansuri plays a virtuosic role here, replacing the oboe in Bach’s original. Bach often layered prominent instrumental solos on top of the vocal line, known as obbligatos. This is probably the first time you've heard a bansuri obbligato!

---

featured videos