Johann Sebastian Bach
Ein ungefärbt Gemüte
“An unstained character”
(Cantata BWV 24)

Ein ungefärbt Gemüte is one of three cantatas that Bach wrote for use on the Fourth Sunday after Trinity. Inspired by the Gospel reading, the text by pastor/theologian Erdmann Neumeister (1671–1756) presents a series of reflections and admonitions on the merciful, generous, forgiving, and candid character of true disciples. As Julian Mincham summarizes the text of the cantata, “The theme is essentially two sided: one part expresses God’s honesty and the positive outcomes that eventuate when the uncorrupted Christian’s mind allows itself to be encompassed by His goodness. The other is the almost ferocious and venomous attack on the hypocrites who turn from Him and wear the devil’s clothes.”

The cantata opens with an alto aria which oddly situates the commands of Jesus in the context of national pride: “An unstained character with German faithfulness and goodness makes us beautiful before God and man.” Accompanied by unison violins and violas, the simplicity of this opening movement suggests the sincere integrity of the unstained character described throughout the work.

This is followed by a tenor recitative, in which love of neighbor is enjoined. The concluding command in that mini-sermon: “Make of yourself the image you would like your neighbor to be!” Then, we hear the full choir for the first time, and — as conductor John Eliot Gardiner observes — “Bach brings out his big guns to ram the point home.” The text the choir sings is a verse from the Sermon on the Mount, expressing a simple and familiar moral insight: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” The music presenting this simple text is intense, forceful, and anything but simple. Mincham comments: “The text has given Bach little specific in the way of inspirational images so he seems to have solved the problem by representing ceaseless activity through constant musical movement.”

After this powerful chorus, a bass recitative warns against the evils of hypocrisy: “Many a devilish monster seems to be an angel. They keep the wolf hidden inside while the sheep’s fleece is turned outside.” This is followed by a tender tenor aria enjoining sincerity: “May faithfulness and truth be the foundation of every thought of yours, as your words and mouth on the outside, so may your heart be inside.”

The cantata concludes with the first stanza from O Gott, du frommer Gott, an eight-stanza chorale by poet Johann Heermann (1585–1647):

Oh God, you righteous God,
You wellspring of all gifts,
Without whom nothing is that is,
From whom we have everything,
Grant me a healthy body,
And [grant] that in that body
An unvexed soul
And clean conscience might abide.

Ein ungefärbt Gemüte is sung here by the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Ton Koopman. The soloists are Bogna Bartosz, alto; Gerd Türk, tenor; and Klaus Mertens, bass. The cantata’s complete text — with helpful annotations by Michael Marissen and Daniel R. Melamed — is available here.