06.26.07
Bach Loved Coffee, I Love Both
I love coffee.
So did Johann Sebastian Bach and other Lutherans in his time. In fact, Bach once wrote a cantata about coffee! Not many people are aware of this, but due to my devotion to “The Bean”, I chanced upon this on one of my caffeine web sprees.
Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht (Kaffee Kantate)
or “Be quiet, do not chat” (Coffee Cantata) BWV 211.
According to a Mr. John L. Hoh, Jr., to understand the cantata, one must understand the times in which Johann lived and what he must have felt in a coffee-hating society as a lover of the aromatic bean juice.
In Germany, coffee was not accepted in the home until the second half of the 18th century. This was due to a mixture of factors: a long standing fondness for local beer, a general distrust of things considered “un-German,” as well as
ongoing prohibition, taxes & libel specifically directed against coffee.
This trend was reflected in Bach’s Coffee Cantata of 1732, a satirical
operetta which provides a musical insight into some of the prevailing
attitudes. It tells of the efforts of a stern father to check his daughter’s
propensity for coffee-drinking by threatening to make her choose between a
husband and coffee. Unperturbed, the daughter sings an aria which begins,
“Ah, how Sweet coffee tastes - lovelier than a thousand kisses, sweeter
far than muscatel.”
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give thee Bach’s amusing Coffee Cantata with the libretto text written by Christian Friedrich Henrici.
(Recitative) Narrator
Be quiet, stop chattering, and pay attention to what’s taking place: here comes Herr Schlendrian with his daughter Lieschen; he’s growling like a honey bear. Hear for yourselves, what she has done to him!
(Aria) Schlendrian
Don’t one’s children cause one endless trials & tribulations! What I say each day to my daughter Lieschen falls on stony ground.
(Recitative) Schlendrian
You wicked child, you disobedient girl, oh! When will I get my way? Give up coffee!
Lieschen
Father, don’t be so severe! If I can’t drink my bowl of coffee three times daily, then in my torment I will shrivel up like a piece of roast goat.
(Aria) Lieschen
Mm! how sweet the coffee tastes, more delicious than a thousand kisses, mellower than muscatel wine. Coffee, coffee I must have, and if someone wishes to give me a treat, ah, then pour me out some coffee!
(Recitative) Schlendrian
If you don’t give up drinking coffee then you shan’t go to any wedding feast, nor go out walking. Oh! when will I get my way? Give up coffee!
Lieschen
Oh well! Just leave me my coffee!
Schlendrian
Now I’ve got the little minx! I won’t get you a whalebone skirt in the latest fashion.
Lieschen
I can easily live with that.
Schlendrian
You’re not to stand at the window and watch people pass by!
Lieschen
That as well, only I beg of you, leave me my coffee!
Schlendrian
Furthermore, you shan’t be getting any silver or gold ribbon for your bonnet from me!
Lieschen
Yes, yes! only leave me to my pleasure!
Schlendrian
You disobedient Lieschen you, so you go along with it all!
(Aria) Schlendrian
Hard-hearted girls are not so easily won over. Yet if one finds their weak spot, ah! then one comes away successful.
(Recitative) Schlendrian
Now take heed what your father says!
Lieschen
In everything but the coffee.
Schlendrian
Well then, you’ll have to resign
yourself to never taking a husband.
Lieschen
Oh yes! Father, a husband!
Schlendrian
I swear it won’t happen.
Lieschen
Until I can forgo coffee? From now on, coffee, remain forever untouched! Father, listen, I won’t drink any.
Schlendrian
Then you shall have a husband at last!
(Aria) Lieschen
Today even dear father, see to it! Oh, a husband! Really, that suits me splendidly! If it could only happen soon that at last, before I go to bed, instead of coffee I were to get a proper lover!
(Recitative) Narrator
Old Schlendrian goes off to see if he can find a husband forthwith for his daughter Lieschen; but Lieschen secretly lets it be known: no suitor is to come to my house unless he promises me, and it is also written into the marriage contract, that I will be permitted to make myself coffee whenever I want.
Trio
A cat won’t stop from catching mice, and maidens remain faithful to their coffee. The mother holds her coffee dear. The grandmother drank it also. Who can thus rebuke the daughters?
Gabriela said,
October 6, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Hi… was just passing thru but this blog entry caught my interest.
I’m a voice major in UP, and I’m singing excerpts from Bach’s Secular Cantatas for my 3rd recital on Oct. 16, Tuesday, 6 pm at Aldaba (behind the UP Theater). I’m singing the Coffee Aria of Lieschen (the 1st one), with flute, cello and harpsichord accompaniment. You are more than welcome to come and attend if you like. :)
BACH RULES!!!!!
sopraninigabi said,
September 20, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Meewa! It’s been almost a year since I posted this invitation in your blog!
How quickly time flies. :)
Miracle ♪♫ said,
September 20, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Wait a minute… that was you, Gabi?! I should have known! I should have put the pieces together! “UP,” “voice major…” B-b-b-ut this was a year ago! I can’t seem to remember Jeremiah having linked me at that time… how’d you come across this blog and especially this little post? Tsk, tsk… I should have paid more attention to my comments back then. (I can’t believe I didn’t even reply! That was rude of me… or did I send you a message privately?) Haha… this is funny… and take a look at the time of your two replies. hahaha ^_^
sopraninigabi said,
September 21, 2008 at 6:28 am
Whoa… I didn’t notice the time. :)
And yup he already linked you… otherwise I would never have found your little corner on the Internet, and been the poorer for it.
And yes you did reply… you messaged me on friendster and said you’d love to go but that you lived in Mindanao. :)
Incidentally, Keith also performed during my 3rd recital. :)
Miracle ♪♫ said,
September 21, 2008 at 10:46 am
Oh wow… it is a small world after all!haha =) Well, Gabi, it really is a blessing knowing you. I’m so thankful our paths crossed. =)