Daniel Eberlin: Ich Kann Nicht Mehr --- ACRONYM, Brunet, Mobley, Giebler, Woody

soprano: Hélène Brunet
alto: Reginald Mobley
tenor: Brian Giebler
bass: Jonathan Woody
violin: Beth Wenstrom, Johanna Novom
tenor viol: Kivie Cahn-Lipman
bass viol: Loren Ludwig, Zoe Weiss
violone: Doug Balliett
harpsichord and organ: Elliot Figg
theorbo: John Lenti

Music was one of the many professions of the violinist and composer Daniel Eberlin (1647–c.1715), who was involved with the military early in life and then employed in various cities as a librarian, banker, and administrator. He served as Kapellmeister in Eisenach—where he was also secretary of the local mint, although he fled the city when the mint was audited—and eventually moved to Hamburg to captain a militia. Few of Eberlin’s compositions survive, and only one other work by him has ever been recorded: a trio sonata in ACRONYM’s Wunderkammer. The text to the strophic opening of Ich kann nicht mehr ertragen—a dialogue between the soprano human soul and the bass spiritual guide—was written by Anton Ulrich (1633–1714). A chorale verse (the fifth stanza of Wenn mein Stündlein vorhanden ist) follows, and the unusual structure concludes with a fugal Amen.

Soprano:
No longer can I
Bear this misery,
The cross’s strong hammer
Falls all too heavily.
It draws on too long,
Endlessly it brings me fear .
I can no longer.

Bass:
Can you no longer
Lean on Jesus?
Should a Christian thus despair?
Ah! Ah do not
Be led astray!
The faith in your heart shall stir,
Yes, you still can.

Soprano:
No longer can I
Be revived by hope.
My burden yet weighs on me,
And tries to overwhelm me.
No comfort can restore me,
It remains as it was.
I can no longer.

Bass:
Yes, you still can.
You shall force yourself
To accept the chalice.
Christian honor
Exists in eternal war.
God will grant you victory.
Yes, you still can.

Soprano:
I can find no more
Patience in my suffering.
Who may help me overcome,
Since the Lord God no longer
Hears my cries
And cruelly forsakes me?
I can no longer.

Bass:
Yes, you still can.
Oh you tortured soul!
The Lord’s miraculous compassion
Hears your complaint:
He shall take pity on you;
Hold him in your faithful arms.
Yes, you still can.

Soprano:
I can no longer.
I must perish.
I cannot help but see my grave,
Which consumes me.
Death alone can release me
From my burden and my misery.
I can no longer.

Bass:
Yes, you still can.
Your Jesus will reveal himself
And turn your despair
To his honor.
He will save you from all here.
You shall not leave his side.
Yes, you still can.

SATB:
And so do I walk toward Jesus Christ,
Extending my arm
And falling asleep in delicate rest,
No man can wake me,
Because God’s Son Jesus Christ,
Will open heaven’s door,
And lead me to eternal life.
Amen.


English translation by Chris Lysack