Cantata Information
Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht, BWV 55
Created 17 November 1726, Leipzig period. Occasion: Trinitatis XXII.
BWV2 (1990 catalogue): BWV 55.
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Trinitatis XXII
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The following websites have more in-depth information on this cantata like notes, the libretto with translations, discography and so on. Click on the icon for information about the site.
From the Bach Archiv Leipzig, this website offers scientifically sound information on the works of Johann Sebastian Bach as well as on the transmission of sources for this body of works up to around 1850, in accordance with the most up-to-date research.
A vast, long-running online resource created and curated by Aryeh Oron. It offers an unparalleled collection of information on J.S. Bach’s cantatas and other vocal works — including texts, translations, discographies, performer biographies, and historical notes — making it one of the most comprehensive Bach reference sites on the internet.
This Swiss foundation has set itself the unique task of performing the entire vocal works of Bach within a period of around 25 years. With great musical passion and historical performance practice, the choir and orchestra, conducted by Rudolf Lutz, interpret Bach's works to the highest standard. In their Bachipedia section you can find notes on all cantatas they have performed. In German, English and Spanish.
Of course the world's biggest encyclopedia has very deep information on all things Bach.
The oldest ensemble for Baroque music in the Netherlands. Founded in 1921 in Naarden to perform Bach's St Matthew Passion on Good Friday, and has performed the work annually since then. In honour of the 100th birthday in 2021, the Society started publishing a new and freely accessible recording every two weeks, including HD video of all works of JS Bach on YouTube, under the title All of Bach. Content in English and Dutch.
This Dutch Bach scholar created a website with information on all cantatas and other vocal works, with the librettos translated into Dutch, links to videos, other websites and much more. Since Eduard's death in 2024 I'm assisting his widow Ria to maintain the site, because such a wonderful resource must be preserved. In Dutch.
A very complete site containing the lyrics to most cantatas and an English translation, curated by two musical scholars and absolute Bach authorities, Michael Marissen and Daniel R. Melamed.
A collective group of singers and instrumentalists founded in 1970 by Craig Smith. It was created specifically to perform the complete cycle of over 200 sacred cantatas of J. S. Bach in the liturgical setting for which they were intended, an endeavor twice completed and a tradition which continues today. Has both notes on cantatas and translated librettos.
Emmanuel Music Boston has English translations for many cantatas.
The International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP), also known as the Petrucci Music Library after publisher Ottaviano Petrucci, is a digital library of public-domain music scores, available either as a subscription-based service or free without registering.
A Swiss website with French translations of the Bach cantatas.
A website with the texts and instrumentations of J. S. Bach's cantatas, motets, masses, passions, oratorios, and chorales.
Discogs (short for "discographies") is an online database and marketplace for audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. Its user-generated database aims to catalogue every physical music release ever made. As of 2025, it contains over 18 million entries.
Videos with this cantata
All of Bach
Published 22 October 2016BWV 55 performed by the Netherlands Bach Society conducted by Jos van Veldhoven Walloon Church, Amsterdam
Bach-Stiftung
Published 22 October 2018J.S. Bach - Cantata BWV 55 "Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht" (J.S. Bach Foundation)
Bach-Stiftung workshop
Published 22 October 2018Workshop zur Kantate BWV 55 "Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht" (J.S. Bach-Stiftung)
Gustav Leonhardt
Published 8 September 2019Bach - Cantate BWV 55 - Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht
Helmut Rilling
Published 15 September 2013Johann Sebastian Bach - Kantaten - (BWV 54), (BWV 55), (BWV 56), (BWV 57)
Il Gardellino
Published 25 November 2015J.S. Bach: Cantata «Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht» BWV 55 [Il Gardellino]
John Eliot Gardiner
Published 20 April 2018J. S. Bach - Cantatas: BWV55, BWV89, BWV115, BWV60 - J. E. Gardiner (Vol.12 CD1)
Karl Richter
Published 17 September 2013J.S. Bach Cantata Ich armer Mensch, ich Sundenknecht BWV 55
La Petite Bande
Published 1 November 2019J S Bach The complete liturgical year in 64 cantatas S Kuijken CD 17 /19
Masaaki Suzuki
Published 24 December 2021J.S. Bach - Cantatas BWV 52, 82, 55, 58 - M. Suzuki (CD 38/55)
Ton Koopman
Published 5 May 2017J. S. Bach – Cantatas BWV 55, 47, 157, 45 – T. Koopman (Vol.18 CD1)