Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1
Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern | |
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BWV 1 | |
Chorale cantata by J. S. Bach | |
File:BWV 1.jpg
First page of the manuscript of the violin part
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Occasion | <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/> |
Performed | 25 March 1725Leipzig : |
Movements | 6 |
Cantata text | anonymous |
Chorale | "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" by Philipp Nicolai |
Vocal | <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
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Instrumental |
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Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern (How beautifully the morning star shines),[1] BWV 1,[lower-alpha 1] is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed it in 1725 in Leipzig for the feast of the Annunciation and it was first performed on 25 March 1725, which fell that year on Palm Sunday. It is a chorale cantata, being based on the hymn "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" (1599) by Philipp Nicolai.
Contents
History and words
This cantata is part of Bach's second annual cycle of cantatas, begun on the first Sunday after Trinity 1724. It was the last chorale cantata in the cycle and is based on the hymn "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" (1599) by Philipp Nicolai. The hymn was associated with Epiphany but also with the Annunciation,[2] and it was the latter feast for which the cantata was written. In Leipzig the Annunciation was celebrated with music, although it typically falls in Lent, when Leipzig observed tempus clausum. This cantata was first performed on 25 March 1725 (which in that year was also Palm Sunday) and its joyful nature would have been all the more striking after the suspension of music for Lent.[3]
The prescribed readings for the day are Isaiah's prophecy of the birth of the Messiah (Isaiah 7:10–16) and from the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel announcing the birth of Jesus (Luke 1:26–38). The unknown librettist kept the first and the last verse, and paraphrased the other stanzas to recitatives and arias, using stanza 2 for the first recitative, stanza 3 for the first aria, stanza 4 and part of stanza 5 for the second recitative, and stanza 6 for the second aria. The chorale, speaking of a longing for the arrival of the Saviour, can be connected to Jesus' birth being announced to Mary. The theme of arrival was especially fitting for Palm Sunday.[4]
The cantata was chosen by the Bach-Gesellschaft for inclusion in the first volume of Bach's complete works, which appeared in 1851. It was later listed as BWV 1 in the Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis.
Scoring and structure
The cantata in six movements is scored for soprano, tenor, and bass soloists, a four-part choir, two horns, two oboes da caccia, two violins obbligato, viola and basso continuo.[4] A festive scoring like this, including brass, was usually performed on holidays. Bach would later use the pair of horns in Part IV of his Christmas Oratorio, dealing with the naming of Jesus as announced to Mary.
- Chorus: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
- Recitative (tenor): Du wahrer Gottes und Marien Sohn
- Aria (soprano): Erfüllet, ihr himmlischen göttlichen Flammen
- Recitative (bass): Ein irdscher Glanz, ein leiblich Licht
- Aria (tenor): Unser Mund und Ton der Saiten
- Chorale: Wie bin ich doch so herzlich froh
Music
The scoring provides a rich orchestration, the sparkle of the morning star is illustrated by two solo violins. The scoring is reminiscent of Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen, BWV 65, written for Epiphany.[3] The cantus firmus in the chorale fantasia of the opening chorus is sung by the sopranos. The other voices support the melody, sometimes preparing it.
Both recitatives are secco, with melismata on the words "Freudenschein" (joyful radiance) and "Erquickung" (refreshment). The first aria combines the soprano voice with the oboe da caccia in alto range. Two violins accompany the tenor in the second aria, reminiscent of the opening chorus.
The closing chorale is embellished by an independent part of the second horn, while the other instruments double the voices.[4]
Recordings
- J.S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 1, BWV 19, Fritz Lehmann, Berliner Motettenchor, Berliner Philharmoniker, Gunthild Weber, Helmut Krebs, Hermann Schey, Decca 1952
- Les Grandes Cantates de J.S. Bach Vol. 1, Fritz Werner, Heinrich-Schütz-Chor Heilbronn, Pforzheim Chamber Orchestra, Maria Friesenhausen, Helmut Krebs, Barry McDaniel, Erato 1965
- Bach Cantatas Vol. 2 – Easter, Karl Richter, Münchener Bach-Chor, Münchener Bach-Orchester. Edith Mathis, Ernst Haefliger, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Archiv Produktion 1968
- J.S. Bach: Das Kantatenwerk – Sacred Cantatas Vol. 1, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Wiener Sängerknaben & Chorus Viennensis (Chorus Master: Hans Gillesberger), Concentus Musicus Wien, soloist of the Wiener Sängerknaben, Kurt Equiluz, Max van Egmond, Teldec 1970
- Die Bach Kantate Vol. 16, Helmuth Rilling, Gächinger Kantorei, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Inga Nielsen, Adalbert Kraus, Philippe Huttenlocher, Hänssler 1980
- Bach Made in Germany Vol. 4 – Cantatas II, Hans-Joachim Rotzsch, Thomanerchor, Neues Bachisches Collegium Musicum, Arleen Augér, Peter Schreier, Siegfried Lorenz, Eterna 1981
- Bach Cantatas Vol. 21: Cambridge/Walpole St Peter, John Eliot Gardiner, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, Malin Hartelius, James Gilchrist, Peter Harvey, Soli Deo Gloria 2000
- Bach Edition Vol. 18 – Cantatas Vol. 9, Pieter Jan Leusink, Holland Boys Choir, Netherlands Bach Collegium, Marjon Strijk, Knut Schoch, Bas Ramselaar, Brilliant Classics 2000
- J.S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 13, Ton Koopman, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir, Deborah York, Paul Agnew, Klaus Mertens, Antoine Marchand 2000
- J.S. Bach: Cantatas Vol. 34 (Cantatas from Leipzig 1725), Masaaki Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan, Carolyn Sampson, Gerd Türk, Peter Kooy, BIS 2005
- Bach: Cantates Marie de Nazareth, Eric J. Milnes, Montréal Baroque, Monika Mauch, Matthew White, Charles Daniels, Stephan MacLeod, ATMA Classique 2006
- J.S. Bach: Cantatas for the Complete Liturgical Year Vol. 6 (Sexagesima and Estomihi Sundays), Sigiswald Kuijken, La Petite Bande, Siri Thornhill, Petra Noskaiova, Marcus Ullmann, Jan van der Crabben, Accent 2007
- J.S. Bach: Kantate BWV 1 „Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern“, Rudolf Lutz, Vokalensemble der Schola Seconda Pratica, Schola Seconda Pratica, Eva Oltiványi, Makoto Sakurada, Manuel Walser, Gallus Media 2010
- Bach: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern – Cantata BWV 1, 48, 78 & 140, Karl-Friedrich Beringer, Windsbacher Knabenchor, Deutsche Kammer-Virtuosen Berlin, Sibylla Rubens, Rebecca Martin, Markus Schäfer, Klaus Mertens, Sony Music 2011
Notes
- ↑ "BWV" is Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis, a thematic catalogue of Bach's works.
References
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to BWV 1. |
- Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
- Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern BWV 1; BC A 173 / Chorale cantata Leipzig University
- Cantata BWV 1 Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern history, scoring, sources for text and music, translations to various languages, discography, discussion, bach-cantatas website
- Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern history, scoring, Bach website (German)
- BWV 1 Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern English translation, University of Vermont
- BWV 1 Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern text, scoring, University of Alberta
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