Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht (Be quiet, do not chat), BWV 211 (1734), also known as the ‘Coffee Cantata’, is a secular cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). Classified as a cantata, it is essentially a miniature comic opera. In a satirical commentary, the cantata amusingly tells of an addiction to coffee.
Although coffee was already known in Europe, it was not until the end of the 17th century that the drink was introduced on a large scale after a victory over the Turks. Despite its popularity, coffee was considered by many to be dangerous, especially for the young. Nevertheless, coffee houses were set up in many towns, including in Leipzig, where Bach lived. Music was often played in these coffee houses, and this music even acquired its own name: coffee house music. Bach was a loyal visitor of coffee house Zimmerman in Leipzig for around 20 years. The premiere of the Coffee Cantata also took place in this coffee house.
The cantata is about a man, Herr Schlendrian (Mr. Sloth), who complains that his daughter Lieschen is addicted to coffee.
Herr Vater, seid doch nicht so scharf!
Father sir, but do not be so harsh! / If I couldn’t, three times a day, / be allowed to drink my little cup of coffee, / in my anguish I will turn into / a shriveled-up roast goat.
Wenn ich des Tages nicht dreimal
Mein Schälchen Coffee trinken darf,
So werd ich ja zu meiner Qual
Wie ein verdorrtes Ziegenbrätchen.
Whatever Herr Schlendrian tries, he cannot get his daughter to give up coffee. It is only when the daughter is promised a husband in return for promising not to drink any more coffee that she agrees.
Heute noch,
Even today, / dear father, make it happen! / Ah, a husband! / Indeed, this will suit me well! / If it would only happen soon, / that at last, instead of coffee, / before I even go to bed, / I might gain a sturdy lover!
Lieber Vater, tut es doch!
Ach, ein Mann!
Wahrlich, dieser steht mir an!
Wenn es sich doch balde fügte,
Dass ich endlich vor Coffee,
Eh ich noch zu Bette geh,
Einen wackern Liebsten kriegte!
But in the marriage contract, she has a clause included that allows her to drink as much coffee as she wants.
Kein Freier komm mir in das Haus,
No suitor comes in my house / unless he has promised to me himself / and has it also inserted into the marriage contract, / that I shall be permitted / to brew coffee whenever I want.
Er hab es mir denn selbst versprochen
Und rück es auch der Ehestiftung ein,
Dass mir erlaubet möge sein,
Den Coffee, wenn ich will, zu kochen.
Bach wrote no operas. The cantata was written for concert performance, but is today frequently performed fully staged with costumes.
Here we hear and see a particularly entertaining performance by the Netherlands Bach Society, performed live on 17 May 2019 for the All of Bach project. Directed by Marc Pantus, musical director Shunske Sato, starring soprano Lucie Chartin, tenor Jan-Willem Schaafsma and baritone Mattijs van de Woerd. Although this cantata does not actually have an overture or prelude, the director has chosen to begin this performance with music from Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767): the fifth movement ‘Distrait’ from his sixth ‘Paris’ quartet in E minor TWV 43:e4. It is very well possible that this music was played in Cafe Zimmerman, just like the Kaffeekantate.
