Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir, BWV 29

We thank you, God, we thank you ( BWV 29 ) is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed it in Leipzig for the 1731 council election. The opening chorus, he later worked at the Dona nobis pacem Gratias and his h- Moll - Messe.

Occasion and content

Bach composed the cantata in Leipzig in 1731 Board election. This introduction of the elected City Council was committed regularly on Monday after St. Bartholomew (24 August ) in a church who fell in 1731 to 27 August. For this occasion he had in the first year prices, Jerusalem, the Lord and later God, you bless you written in silence. According to the occasion, the text content is thanksgiving to God for the prosperity of the city, asking for future blessing and praise his power.

Scoring and structure

The rich cast corresponds to the festive occasion, be it music four soloists, soprano, alto, tenor, bass, four-part choir, three trumpets, timpani, two oboes, organ, two violins, viola and basso continuo.

Music

The cantata is one of the few sacred cantatas with an introductory instrumental Sinfonia. This is a version of the Preludio from Bach's Partita in E major for Violin, BWV 1006., The organ takes over the virtuoso soloist, the orchestra accompaniment function.

The opening chorus, set and sung the second verse of Psalm 75 is written in the venerable stile antico. The bass starts a topic of great simplicity in uniform steps, which is imitated after one clock from the tenor. The Old occurs after two additional cycles added, the soprano only one clock later. This creates a dense vocal structure. The more animated counter-subject lifts the words proclaim and wonders out. Initially only play the oboe and strings colla parte with the voices. As an increase amplifies a trumpet soprano, then two trumpets participate the work achieved with the use of the third trumpet and timpani a climax with their own themes inserts on the polyphony to. Bach needed to change only slightly, to around 1733 at the Gloria Gratias to use the music of his B minor Mass, expressing the same content. Later he continued the music a Dona nobis pacem as to decide his work.

The following da capo aria is the tenor, the solo violin and continuo equal partners.

The soprano aria, accompanied by oboe and strings, is in the Siciliano rhythm. The continuo is silent during the singing sections, a frequently recurring in Bach illustration of " unprovoked " love of God.

After a recitative that leads to an amen all voices repeated the old the main part of the tenor aria, this time accompanied by the organ. Such a revisiting of the topic ( 3 and 6) and Instrument ( 1 and 6) is unusual in Bach's cantatas.

In the final chorale, the fifth stanza of Johann Gramanns Well praise, my soul, the Lord, the trumpet choir accentuated some lines drawn.

Recordings

  • J. S. Bach: The cantatas - Sacred Cantatas Vol 2, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Vienna Boys 'Choir & Chorus Viennensis, Concentus Musicus Wien, boy soprano of the Vienna Boys' Choir, Paul Esswood, Kurt Equiluz, Max van Egmond, Teldec 1974
  • J. S. Bach: We thank you, God, Philippe Herreweghe, Collegium Vocale Gent, Deborah York, Ingeborg Danz, Mark Padmore, Peter Kooij, Harmonia Mundi France 1999
  • J. S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol 20, Ton Koopman, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir, Sandrine Piau, Bogna Bartosz, James Gilchrist, Klaus Mertens, Antoine Marchand 2003
  • J. S. Bach: Cantatas, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Arnold Schoenberg Choir, Concentus Musicus Wien, Christine Schäfer, Bernarda Fink, Werner Güra, Christian Gerhaher, German Harmonia Mundi 2007
Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis Bass (voice type) Sonatas and partitas for solo violin (Bach) Gloria in excelsis Deo Peter Kooy Werner Neumann Christoph Wolff Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid, BWV 3 Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 33 Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot, BWV 39 Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats, BWV 42 Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt, BWV 68 Alles nur nach Gottes Willen, BWV 72 Alles, was von Gott geboren, BWV 80a Bisher habt ihr nichts gebeten in meinem Namen, BWV 87 Ach, lieben Christen, seid getrost, BWV 114 Christum wir sollen loben schon, BWV 121 Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein, BWV 128 Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir, BWV 131 Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn! BWV 132 Erforsche mich, Gott, und erfahre mein Herz, BWV 136 Bringet dem Herrn Ehre seines Namens, BWV 148 Ach! ich sehe, itzt, da ich zur Hochzeit gehe, BWV 162 Barmherziges Herze der ewigen Liebe, BWV 185 Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut, BWV 199 Entfliehet, verschwindet, entweichet, ihr Sorgen, BWV 249a St Mark Passion (Bach)
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