The Story of this Coffee Cantata, a charming and hilarious cantata about a young lady's addiction to Coffee. Written by the Great Johann Sebastian Bach. 1685-1750. In the distant past there was a little diva named Suzi More who was asked (by it's founder, Peter Munoz) to take over a little orchestral ensemble in Jersey City called the JCLOS (Jersey City Little Orchestra Society). this was between the years 1984-1987. She found some funding from cultural organizations in that county and provided a few years of wonderful chamber music programs for senior centers and nursing homes and churches of the neighborhood. One year, they decided to do a major concert with chorus, orchestra and soloists. A good friend of Suzi's named Oscar Ravina, who had played the violin in several concerts with her, brought friends and students which turned out to be a wonderful pickup group to perform the Bach Coffee Cantata. Suzi sang the soprano part of Lizzy. A baritone named Steven Farris sang the role of Schlendrian, and a tenor named Paul Rogers sang the part of Erzähler. These two singers had worked in other concerts with Suzi over a period of several years. Suzi had sung with Steven who was the Bass in an acapella quartet called The Orpheus Chamber Singers. Paul Rogers had sung for years with Michael May, the assistant to David Randolph who had been the longtime director of the Masterwork Chorus and Orchestra. Suzi met Michael when she was singing the part of the "Woman" in Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, in a performance with the Plainfield Symphony. The Plainfield Symphony had hired Randolph and the Masterwork Chorus to sing with their orchestra and chosen soloists. From then on, Suzi performed in many of the programs and concerts that Michael May scheduled in the dozen years that she knew him till he died. This recording was lost for many years and now that it is found, Suzi tried for months to contact the people she worked with in order to get updates on their recent performances. Oscar is deceased, Paul is nowhere on the web and Suzi thinks he got married and took his wife's last name or maybe he may be deceased also. Lastly, she tried to get in touch with Steven and has found that he had left the field of music altogether in order to sell dog food in California. Not only did he sell it, but he became a top administrator in the company and has never written her back. A list of the pieces, their German lyrics and a rough translation to English done by Suzi More follow: Coffee Cantata BWV 211 Liesgen (Soprano), Erzähler (Tenor), Schlendrian (Bass) 1. Rezitativ Tenor Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht, Und höret, was itzund geschicht: Da kömmt Herr Schlendrian, Mit seiner Tochter Liesgen her, Er brummt ja wie ein Zeidelbär; Hört selber, was sie ihm getan! 1. Recitative Tenor Be still, make no sound, And listen to what is going on: Enters Schlendrian and daughter Lizzy, Like a bear huffing; Listen to his fussing. 2. Arie( Bass) Hat man nicht mit seinen Kindern, Hunderttausend Hudelei! Was ich immer alle Tage, Meiner Tochter Liesgen sage, Gehet ohne Frucht vorbei. 2. Aria Bass With children there are thousands of tribulations each day with them. Anything I say to my daughter Lizzy, goes in one ear and out. 3. Rezitativ Bass/Soprano Schlendrian Du böses Kind, du loses Mädchen, Ach! wenn erlang ich meinen Zweck: Tu mir den Coffee weg! Liesgen Herr Vater, seid doch nicht so scharf! Wenn ich des Tages nicht dreimal Mein Schälchen Coffee trinken darf, So werd ich ja zu meiner Qual Wie ein verdorrtes Ziegenbrätchen. 3. Recitative Bass/Soprano Schlendrian Wicked naughty girl, Ah! When will I see the end of this terrible habit! Lizzy Father sir, but do not be so harsh! If I can’t have three times daily, a little cup of coffee, in despair I know I’ll simply die and shrivel up. 4. Arie Soprano Ei! wie schmeckt der Coffee süße, Lieblicher als tausend Küsse, Milder als Muskatenwein. Coffee, Coffee muss ich haben, Und wenn jemand mich will laben, Ach, so schenkt mir Coffee ein! 4. Aria Soprano Ah! How sweet the taste of coffee is. Sweeter than a thousand kisses, better than muscatel wine. Ah, I must have coffee, and, if, you’d be mine only, Bring on my coffee to me! 5. Rezitativ Bass/Soprano Schlendrian Wenn du mir nicht den Coffee lässt, So sollst du auf kein Hochzeitfest, Auch nicht spazierengehn. Liesgen Ach ja! Nur lasset mir den Coffee da! Schlendrian Da hab ich nun den kleinen Affen! Ich will dir keinen Fischbeinrock nach itzger Weite schaffen. Liesgen Ich kann mich leicht darzu verstehn. Schlendrian Du sollst nicht an das Fenster treten Und keinen sehn vorübergehn! Liesgen Auch dieses; doch seid nur gebeten Und lasset mir den Coffee stehn! Schlendrian Du sollst auch nicht von meiner Hand Ein silbern oder goldnes Band Auf deine Haube kriegen! Liesgen Ja, ja! nur lasst mir mein Vergnügen! Schlendrian Du loses Liesgen du, So gibst du mir denn alles zu? 5. Recitative Bass/Soprano Schlendrian If you won’t stop this coffee for me, you won’t go out to anything To weddings, parties, concerts, not even to go out walking. Lizzy Okay then! But please leave the coffee be. With me. Schlendrian Now I've got her where I want her. “I’ll buy you no stylish dress in fashion." Lizzy I can easily handle that. Schlendrian You won’t stay at the window or see anyone that you’d like to. Lizzy This too I don’t care about but let my coffee stay with me! Schlendrian From me you'll never ever get lovely ribbons for hair or bonnet! Liesgen Anything you say don’t take my coffee away! Schlendrian You naughty Lizzy, you’d give all of that to me? 6. Arie Bass Mädchen, die von harten Sinnen, Sind nicht leichte zu gewinnen. Doch trifft man den rechten Ort, O! so kömmt man glücklich fort. 6. Aria Bass Girls can be quite stubborn and not very easy to convince. But if you know the right words, you may find that you have won the battle. 7. Rezitativ Bass/Soprano Schlendrian Nun folge, was dein Vater spricht! Liesgen In allem, nur den Coffee nicht. Schlendrian Wohlan! so musst du dich bequemen, Auch niemals einen Mann zu nehmen. Liesgen Ach ja! Herr Vater, einen Mann! Schlendrian Ich schwöre, dass es nicht geschicht. Liesgen Bis ich den Coffee lassen kann? Nun! Coffee, bleib nur immer liegen! Herr Vater, hört, ich trinke keinen nicht. Schlendrian So sollst du endlich einen kriegen! 7. Recitative Bass/Soprano Schlendrian Now do what your father tells you! Lizzy In all things but coffee. Schlendrian All right then! So you’ll be happy without ever finding a mate Liesgen Oh yes! Father, a husband! Schlendrian I swear it won’t happen. Lizzy Till I give up coffee? OK! Coffee, I’ll leave it forever! Listen, I’ll quit it! Schlendrian So finally you'll get one! 8. Arie Soprano Heute noch, 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! 8. Aria Soprano Today, my father, make it happen! Ah, a husband! this is what suits me! Let it happen soon, then, instead of coffee before bed, I will have a darling lover! 9. Rezitativ Tenor Nun geht und sucht der alte Schlendrian, Wie er vor seine Tochter Liesgen Bald einen Mann verschaffen kann; Doch, Liesgen streuet heimlich aus: Kein Freier komm mir in das Haus, 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. 9. Recitative Tenor Now old Schlendrian makes haste to find a husband for Lizzy. But she secretly spreads the word:that no one can court her unless he promises in a contract that she may brew coffee whenever she wants. 10. Chor (Terzett) Soprano/Tenor/Bass Die Katze lässt das Mausen nicht, Die Jungfern bleiben Coffeeschwestern. Die Mutter liebt den Coffeebrauch, Die Großmama trank solchen auch, Wer will nun auf die Töchter lästern! 10. Chorus (Trio) Soprano/Tenor/Bass The Cats do not give up their mousing,The young sisters always will love their coffee. mother still keeps her coffee-habit, grandma too. So how can anyone say a thing about what their daughters do!