| |
---|---|
BWV 11 | |
Oratorio by J. S. Bach | |
Ascension , Church of the Holy Cross in Jelenia Góra | |
Native name | Oratorium In Festo Ascensionis |
Related | Agnus Dei |
Occasion | Feast of the Ascension |
Cantata text | Picander? |
Bible text | Luke, Acts, Mark |
Chorale | |
Performed | 15 May 1738 ?: Leipzig |
Movements | 11 in two parts (6 + 5) |
Vocal | SATB soloists and choir |
Instrumental |
|
Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen (Laud to God in all his kingdoms), BWV 11, [lower-alpha 1] known as the Ascension Oratorio (Himmelfahrtsoratorium), is an oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach, marked by him as Oratorium In Festo Ascensionis Xsti (Oratorio for the feast of the Ascension of Christ), composed for the service for Ascension and probably first performed on 15 May 1738.
Bach had composed his Christmas Oratorio , based on the gospels of Luke and Matthew, in 1734. He had composed an Easter Oratorio already in 1725. The text for the Ascension Oratorio, a compilation of several biblical sources, free poetry and chorales, was presumably written by Picander who may also have worked on the libretto for the Christmas Oratorio. It follows the story of the Ascension as told in Luke, Mark and the Acts of the Apostles. The oratorio is structured in eleven movements in two parts, taking about half an hour to perform. It is framed by extended choral movements, Part I is concluded by the fourth stanza of Johann Rist's hymn "Du Lebensfürst, Herr Jesu Christ" in a four-part setting. The closing chorale on the seventh stanza of Gottfried Wilhelm Sacer's "Gott fähret auf gen Himmel" is set as a chorale fantasia. The work is richly scored for the feast day, exactly like the Christmas Oratorio for four vocal parts, three trumpets, timpani, two flauti traversi, two oboes, strings and continuo.
Bach had composed his Christmas Oratorio , based on the gospels of Luke and Matthew, in 1734, a work in six parts to be performed on six occasions during Christmas tide. He had composed an Easter Oratorio already in 1725, and revised it for 1738. Bach composed the oratorio for Ascension that same year. The text for the Ascension Oratorio, a compilation of several biblical sources, free poetry and chorales, was presumably written by Picander who had been the librettist for the St Matthew Passion and other works by Bach. It follows the story of the Ascension as told both in Luke, Mark and the Acts of the Apostles. [1]
The bible narration is compiled from multiple sources: the first recitative of the Evangelist (movement 2) is from Luke 24 (Luke24:50–51), the second (5) from Acts 1 (Acts1:9) and Mark 16 (Mark16:19), the third (7) from Acts 1 (Acts1:10–11), the last (9) from Luke 24 (Luke24:52a), Acts 1 (Acts1:12), and Luke 24 (Luke24:52b). [1] The biblical words are narrated by the tenor as the Evangelist. In his third recitative two men are quoted, for this quotation tenor and bass both sing in an arioso. [2] [3]
Part I, which tells of the Ascension, is concluded by the fourth stanza of Johann Rist's hymn "Du Lebensfürst, Herr Jesu Christ" in a four-part setting. Part II reflects the reaction of the disciples. The closing chorale on the seventh stanza of Gottfried Wilhelm Sacer's "Gott fähret auf gen Himmel" is set as a chorale fantasia. [4] While the music for the narration and the first chorale were new compositions in 1738, Bach based the framing choral movements and the two arias on earlier compositions. He used the model for the alto aria again much later for the Agnus Dei of his Mass in B minor. [5]
Bach probably performed the oratorio first on 15 May 1738, [4] [6] while older source assumed that was composed in 1935, in the same liturgical year as the Christmas Oratorio. [1]
In the first complete edition of Bach's works, the Bach-Ausgabe of the Bach Gesellschaft , the work was included under the cantatas (hence its low BWV number), and in the Bach Compendium it is numbered BC D 9 and included under oratorios.
The oratorio spans eleven movements in two parts to be performed before and after the sermon, 1–6 before the sermon and 7–11 after the sermon. It takes about half an hour to perform. [7] The title on the first page of the autograph reads:
"J.J. Oratorium Festo Ascensionis Xsti. à 4 Voci. 3 Trombe Tamburi
2 Travers. 2 Hautb. 2 Violini, Viola e Cont. di
Bach [8]
"J.J." is short for "Jesu juva" (Jesus, help), a formula which Bach and others often wrote at the beginning of a sacred piece. The title in Latin translates to "Oratorio for the feast of the Ascension of Christ", and the scoring in a mixture of French and Italian names the parts and instruments [9] as four vocal parts, three trumpets (Tr), timpani, two flauti traversi (Ft), two oboes (Ob), two violins (Vn), viola (Va) and basso continuo (Bc) by Bach. [4] The voices are soprano, alto, tenor and bass, forming a four-part choir (SATB). [5] The work is festively scored, exactly like the Christmas Oratorio. [8]
The structure shows symmetry around the central chorale. Expansive chorale movements using the complete orchestra frame the work. Both parts contain besides the bible narration (rec.) a reflective accompagnato recitative (acc.) and an aria with obbligato instruments. In the following table of the movements, the scoring is taken the Neue Bach-Ausgabe. The keys and time signatures are taken from Alfred Dürr, using the symbol for common time (4/4). Dürr gives the duration as 32 minutes. [7] The timpani always play with the trumpets and are not mentioned.
No. | Type | Text (source) | Vocal | Brass and winds | Strings | Bass | Key | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part I | ||||||||
1 | chorus | Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen (Picander) | SATB | 3Tr 2Ft 2Ob | 2Vl Va | Bc | D major | 2/4 |
2 | rec. | Der Herr Jesus hub seine Hände auf (Bible) | T | Bc | ![]() | |||
3 | acc. | Ach, Jesu, ist dein Abschied (Picander) | B | 2Ft | Bc | ![]() | ||
4 | aria | Ach, bleibe doch, mein liebstes Leben (Picander) | A | Vl (unis.) | Bc | A minor | ![]() | |
5 | rec. | Und ward aufgehoben zusehends (Bible) | T | Bc | ![]() | |||
6 | chorale | Nun lieget alles unter dir (Rist) | SATB | 2Ft 2Ob | 2Vl Va | Bc | D major | 3/4 |
Part II | ||||||||
7 | rec. | Und da sie ihm nachsahen (Bible) | T B | Bc | ![]() | |||
8 | acc. | Ach ja! so komme bald zurück (Picander) | A | 2Ft | Bc | ![]() | ||
9 | rec. | Sie aber beteten ihn an (Bible) | T | Bc | ![]() | |||
10 | aria | Jesu, deine Gnadenblicke (Bible) | S | 2Ft Ob | unison | G major | 3/8 | |
11 | chorale | Wenn soll es doch geschehen (Sacer) | SATB | 3Tr 2Ft 2Ob | 2Vl Va | Bc | D major | 6/4 |
The Bach scholar Richard D. P. Jones compares the Christmas Oratorio and the Ascension Oratorio and arrives at similarities:
the festive opening chorus with trumpets and drums, the Evangelist's secco recitatives, the intermediate four-part chorale, the meditative accompagnati, the semi-dramatic treatment of biblical characters (here the "two men in white") and the elaborate chorale-finale. [8]
The oratorio is similar especially to Part VI of the Christmas Oratorio which also begins with an extended opening chorus and a chorale fantasia as a conclusion. [8] Bach derived the opening chorus and two arias of earlier works. [1]
The festive opening chorus expressing praise, "Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen", is believed to be based on a movement from the lost secular cantata Froher Tag, verlangte Stunden, BWV Anh. 18 . [1] [10] The movement has no fugue, but dance-like elements and Lombard rhythm. The orchestra with trumpets, flutes and oboes, begins with extended concertante music. The choir enters in homophony, with its own themes. [2] Two middle sections, similar to each other, have syncopated themes in minor modes, but the general praise prevails there as well. [2]
Bach marks the first recitative of bible narration "Recit. nach dem ersten Chor" (Recitative after the first chorus). [9] It is sung by the Evangelista (Evangelist), which Bach assigns to the tenor singing secco recitative, following an old tradition. [2] The action begins, "Der Herr Jesus hub seine Hände auf" (The Lord Jesus lifted up His hands), [3] with Jesus blessing the disciples and leaving them. [2]
A reflecting recitative for bass, "Ach, Jesu, ist dein Abschied" (Ah, Jesus, is Your departure), [3] shows the situation of the disciples afraid that Jesus will leave them soon. Marked "Rec: col accomp." (Recitative: with accomp[animent]), [9] it is accompanied by the flutes and continuo as a recitativo accompagnato. The instruments add colour in long notes to the singing, and illustrate feelings and movements in transitions. [2]
Deeper reflection is expressed in an aria, marked "Aria Violini unisoni e Alto" (Aria Violins in unison and Alto). [9] The singer requests Jesus to stay: "Ach, bleibe doch, mein liebstes Leben" (Ah, just stay, my dearest Life). [3] The music is based on a movement from the lost wedding cantata Auf, süß entzückende Gewalt, BWV Anh. 196, written in 1725 on a libretto by Johann Christoph Gottsched. [1]
Bach used the model for the alto aria of the Agnus Dei of his Mass in B minor. [2]
The Evangelist continues the narration with the Ascension: "Und ward aufgehoben zusehends" (And He was apparently lifted up). [3]
The first chorale, closing part 1, is the fourth stanza of "Du Lebensfürst, Herr Jesu Christ", written in 1641 by Johann Rist. [2] The text "Nun lieget alles unter dir" (Now everything is subject to You) [3] imagines Jesus in heaven, with the angels and elements serving him:
Nun lieget alles unter dir,
Dich selbst nur ausgenommen;
Die Engel müssen für und für
Dir aufzuwarten kommen.
Dir Fürsten stehn auch auf der Bahn
Und sind dir willig untertan;
Luft, Wasser, Feuer, Erden
Muß dir zu Dienste werden.
It is composed as a four-part setting, with the instruments playing colla parte : oboes and violin I enforce the chorale tune, the flutes an octave higher, violin II plays with the alto, viola with the tenor, and the continuo with the bass. [11]
The evangelist begins Part II, "Und da sie ihm nachsahen" (And as they watched), [3] telling of two men in white gowns addressing the disciples. The two men are represented by tenor and bass in a duet, which begins in homophony and leads to a canon. [2]
A reflecting recitative for alto, "Ach ja! so komme bald zurück" (Ah yes! Then come back soon), [3] requests the return of Jesus. Parallel to the bass recitative in Part I, it is also accompanied by the flutes and continuo. [2]
The evangelist ends the narration, "Sie aber beteten ihn an" (They however prayed to Him), [3] telling of the disciples' return from the mountain which is named the Mount of Olives. [2]
The soprano aria, "Jesu, deine Gnadenblicke" (Jesus, Your merciful gaze), [3] is also based on the wedding cantata Auf, süß entzückende Gewalt. [2] It is one of the rare pieces in Bach's music without basso continuo, with the two unison flutes, the oboe and the unison strings playing a trio, augmented to a quartet by the singer. The original words in the wedding cantata mentioned "Unschuld" (innocence). Brian Robins notes "the lightly translucent texture reflecting the text's allusion to Christ leaving his body to ascend to Heaven". [5] While Dürr saw the music as the illustrtion of a glance towards heaven, [2] Jones thinks that the setting without an earthly continuo represents the Gnadenblicke (glances of Grace) of the text. [8]
The closing chorale, "Wenn soll es doch geschehen" (When shall it happen"), [3] is the seventh stanza of "Gott fähret auf gen Himmel", written in 1697 by Gottfried Wilhelm Sacer. [2] Set in the first person, it expresses the desire of the speaker for the "liebe Zeit" (dear time) when he sees the Saviour in his glory. Continuing saying "wir" (we), he imagines greeting and kissing him.
Wenn soll es doch geschehen,
wenn kömmt die liebe Zeit,
daß ich ihn werde sehn
in seiner Herrlichkeit?
Du Tag, wenn wirst du sein,
daß wir den Heiland grüßen,
daß wir den Heiland küssen?
Komm, stelle dich doch ein!
It is set as a chorale fantasia. The soprano sings the cantus firmus in long notes,< on the melody of "Von Gott will ich nicht lassen". [5] [12] Similar to the final chorale Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen of the Christmas Oratorio , [2] the chorale tune in a church mode appears in the triumphant context of a different major key. The text expresses longing for the day of being united with Jesus in Heaven. The musicologist Julian Mincham interprets the mode of the tune as "the human state of waiting and hoping", while the concerto represents the fulfillment. [13] Mincham compares the writing to the opening chorale fantasias of the second cantata cycle of chorale cantatas, finding the composition for the lower voices "endlessly inventive, frequently related to the textual images" pointing out "the passionate and clinging representation of kissing the Saviour beneath the caressing flutes, in the penultimate phrase". [13]
The sortable listing is taken from the selection provided by Aryeh Oron on the Bach Cantatas Website. [14] Ensembles with period instruments in historically informed performance and choirs of one voice per part (OVPP) is marked by green background.
Title | Conductor / Choir / Orchestra | Soloists | Label | Year | Choir type | Orch. type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Historic Bach cantatas (Karl Straube, 1931) | Karl Straube Thomanerchor Gewandhausorchester |
| Querstand | 1931 | ||
Bach: Cantatas No. 67 & 11, from cantata No. 147 | Reginald Jacques The Cantata SingersThe Jacques Orchestra |
| Decca | 1949 | ||
J. S. Bach: Cantata BWV 11 | Marcel Couraud Stuttgarter Bach-ChorBadische Staatskapelle |
| mid 1950s? | |||
Bach Made in Germany Vol. 2 – Cantatas I | Kurt Thomas Thomanerchor Gewandhausorchester | Bach Archiv Leipzig | 1960 | |||
Les Grandes Cantates de J. S. Bach Vol. 2 | Fritz Werner Heinrich-Schütz-Chor Heilbronn Pforzheim Chamber Orchestra | Erato | 1966 | |||
J. S. Bach: Das Kantatenwerk • Complete Cantatas • Les Cantates, Folge / Vol. 3 | Nikolaus Harnoncourt Leonhardt-Consort |
| Teldec | 1972 | Period | |
Bach Cantatas Vol. 3 – Ascension Day, Whitsun, Trinity | Karl Richter Münchener Bach-Chor Münchener Bach-Orchester | Archiv Produktion | 1975 | |||
Die Bach Kantate Vol. 7 | Helmuth Rilling Gächinger Kantorei Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn |
| Hänssler | 1984 | ||
J. S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 11 & 249 | Gustav Leonhardt Choir of the Age of Enlightenment Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment | Philips | 1993 | Period | ||
J. S. Bach: Himmelfahrts-Oratorium | Philippe Herreweghe Choir of the Age of Enlightenment Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment |
| Harmonia Mundi | 1993 | Period | |
J. S. Bach: Ascension Cantatas | John Eliot Gardiner Monteverdi Choir English Baroque Soloists | Archiv Produktion | 2000 | Period | ||
Bach Edition Vol. 17 – Cantatas Vol. 2 | Pieter Jan Leusink Holland Boys Choir Netherlands Bach Collegium | Brilliant Classics | 2000 | Period | ||
J. S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 20 | Ton Koopman Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir | Antoine Marchand | 2003 | Period | ||
J. S. Bach: Easter Oratorio · Ascension Oratorio | Masaaki Suzuki Bach Collegium Japan | BIS | 2004 | Period | ||
J. S. Bach: Cantatas for the Complete Liturgical Year Vol. 10 | Sigiswald Kuijken La Petite Bande | Accent | 2009 | OVPP | Period |
Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid, BWV 3, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed the chorale cantata in Leipzig for the Second Sunday after Epiphany and first performed it on 14 January 1725. It is based on the hymn published by Martin Moller in 1587.
The Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, is an oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach intended for performance in church during the Christmas season. It is in six parts, each part a cantata intended for performance in a church service on a feast day of the Christmas period. It was written for the Christmas season of 1734 and incorporates music from earlier compositions, including three secular cantatas written during 1733 and 1734 and a largely lost church cantata, BWV 248a. The date is confirmed in Bach's autograph manuscript. The next complete public performance was not until 17 December 1857 by the Sing-Akademie zu Berlin under Eduard Grell. The Christmas Oratorio is a particularly sophisticated example of parody music. The author of the text is unknown, although a likely collaborator was Christian Friedrich Henrici (Picander).
Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, BWV 40, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed it in 1723, his first year in Leipzig, for the Second Day of Christmas, and first performed it on 26 December that year in both main churches, Thomaskirche and Nikolaikirche. It was the first Christmas cantata Bach composed for Leipzig. The title of the cantata also appears in more modern German as Dazu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes.
Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen, BWV 43, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed it in Leipzig for the Feast of the Ascension and first performed it on 30 May 1726. It begins with a quotation from Psalm 47.
Unser Mund sei voll Lachens, BWV 110, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed the Christmas cantata in Leipzig for Christmas Day and first performed it on 25 December 1725.
Gott, wie dein Name, so ist auch dein Ruhm, BWV 171, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed it in Leipzig for New Year's Day and probably first performed it on 1 January 1729.
The Evangelist in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach is the tenor part in his oratorios and Passions who narrates the exact words of one of the Four Evangelists of the Bible, translated by Martin Luther, in recitative secco. The part appears in the works St John Passion, St Matthew Passion, and the Christmas Oratorio, as well as the St Mark Passion and the Ascension OratorioLobet Gott in seinen Reichen, BWV 11. Some cantatas also contain recitatives of Bible quotations, assigned to the tenor voice.
Vox Christi, Latin for Voice of Christ, is a setting of Jesus' words in a vocal work such as a Passion, an Oratorium or a Cantata. Conventionally, for instance in Protestant music of the Baroque era, the vox Christi is set for a bass voice.
Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, BWV 91, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He wrote the Christmas cantata in Leipzig in 1724 for Christmas Day and first performed it on 25 December 1724. The chorale cantata is based on the hymn "Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ" (1524) by Martin Luther.
Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 190, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He wrote it in Leipzig for the New Year's Day and first performed it on 1 January 1724 as part of his first cantata cycle. He adapted it in 1730 to Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 190a, for the celebration of the bicentennial of the Augsburg Confession.
Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen, BWV 65, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed it in 1724 in Leipzig for Epiphany and first performed it on 6 January 1724 as part of his first cantata cycle.
Sehet, wir gehn hinauf gen Jerusalem, BWV 159, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed it in Leipzig for the Sunday Estomihi, the last Sunday before Lent, and probably first performed it on 27 February 1729. The gospel reading for the Sunday, from the Gospel of Luke, includes Jesus announcing his suffering and death in Jerusalem. The cantata's theme and Bach's music foreshadow his Passion.
Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein, BWV 128, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach composed it in Leipzig for the Feast of the Ascension and first performed it on 10 May 1725.
Ich freue mich in dir, BWV 133, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed the Christmas cantata in Leipzig in 1724 for the Third Day of Christmas and first performed it on 27 December 1724. The chorale cantata is based on the 1697 hymn by Caspar Ziegler.
Gottfried Wilhelm Sacer was a German jurist, poet, satirist and Protestant hymn writer. He worked as an advocate at the court of Wolfenbüttel. Johann Sebastian Bach used a stanza from his hymn "Gott fähret auf gen Himmel" to conclude his Ascension Oratorio. Another hymn, Jesu, meines Glaubens Zier, appears in the 1736 Schemelli Gesangbuch in a setting attributed to Bach.
Jauchzet, frohlocket! Auf, preiset die Tage, BWV 248I, is a 1734 Christmas cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach that serves as the first part of his Christmas Oratorio. Bach was then Thomaskantor, responsible for church music at four churches in Leipzig, a position he had assumed in 1723. For the oratorio, the libretto by an unknown author followed the nativity of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke, interspersed with reflecting texts for recitatives and arias, and stanzas from Lutheran hymns.
Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben, BWV 248IV, is a Christmas cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach, composed in 1734 as Part IV of his six-part Christmas Oratorio. Each part of the oratorio is a cantata, written for performance on one of the feast days of the Christmas period. Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben is meant for the New Year's Day feast of the circumcision and naming of Jesus. Based on a libretto by an unknown author, it tells the naming of Jesus from the Nativity of Jesus, according to the Gospel of Luke.
Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend, BWV 248II, is a 1734 Christmas cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach as the second part of his Christmas Oratorio. Bach was then Thomaskantor, responsible for music at four churches in Leipzig, a position he had assumed in 1723.
Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen, BWV 248III, is a 1734 church cantata for the third day of Christmas (27 December) which Johann Sebastian Bach composed as the third part of his Christmas Oratorio. The Christmas cantata was first performed in 1734, in Leipzig. Bach was then Thomaskantor, responsible for music at four churches in Leipzig, a position he had assumed in 1723.