(How beauteous beams the morning star) for soprano, tenor and bass, vocal ensemble, corno I+II, oboe da caccia I+II, strings and continuo The cantata “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern” (How beauteous beams the morning star), written for the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1725, completes Bach’s chorale cantata cycle of 1724. As it … Read More
(Christians, etch ye now this day) for soprano, alto, tenor and bass, vocal ensemble, trumpets I-IV, timpani, oboe I-III, bassoon, strings and continuo. In 1957, Bach specialist Alfred Dürr wrote that BWV 63, more than any other of Bach’s cantatas, strives to unify the highest intensity of magnificence with the maximum level of economy. Indeed, … Read More
(Resound now, ye lyrics, ring out now, ye lyres!) for soprano, alto, tenor and bass, vocal ensemble, trumpets I-III, timpani, bassoon, strings and continuo. Bach initially composed cantata BWV 172 in 1714 for Pentecost in Weimar, but revised and re-performed it several times throughout his Leipzig years, even transposing it from C major to D … Read More
(Make ready the pathways, make ready the road!) for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, oboe, bassoon, strings and continuo. Written in 1715, Bach’s Weimar cantata for the Fourth Sunday in Advent “Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn” (Make ready the pathways, make ready the road!) BWV 132 is scored primarily for four voices, strings and continuo. … Read More
