Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes, BWV 76

Martin Luther

The heavens declare the glory of God ( BWV 76), is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach.

Formation

The work was first performed on June 6, 1723 in the St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, making it the second of Bach's Leipzig cantatas after taking office as choirmaster. As well as the cantata only a week earlier mentioned The meek ​​shall eat ( BWV 75) is the composition of two parts, which originally sounded before and after the sermon. The elaborate design of both plants is a major commitment, with the Bach devoted himself to the new task.

Topic

The unknown librettist takes up the theme of the Gospel reading for the second Sunday after Trinity, the conversion of the people to God. The words of the opening chorus, the verses 2 and 4 of Psalm 19 Following the invitation to faith in God is lamented in sets 4 and 5, the idol worship by the majority of mankind. In the ensuing recitative follows the thanks of the Gentile converts, confirmed by the Luther chorale "It wanted us to be God genädig ", which concludes the first part. In the second part of the invitation to the "faithful flock " of the Confessing to repay the hatred of their enemies with love goes. Here again there is a final reflection of the theme, this time by the 3rd verse of the same song Luther.

Occupation

  • Vocal soloists: soprano, alto, tenor, bass
  • Choir: soprano, alto, tenor, bass
  • Orchestra: Trumpet, Oboe I / II, Oboe d' amore, violin I / II, Soloviolino, viola da gamba, continuo.

Construction

Special

The most striking sentence of this cantata is the unusual, two-piece -scale opening chorus: After a short, festive introduction by the solo trumpet of the first Psalm Envers is recited by the chorus in the form of a prelude. This is followed by a new theme for the second verse in the form of a fugue, first in succession Employing achieve in the four solo voices and then the four voices an impressive increase in effect, which is crowned by the final use of the trumpet. Also noteworthy are the third set, the soprano aria " Hear, you peoples, God's voice ", which is framed by a concert solo violin, and the contrasting bass aria of the fifth set, in which again the solo trumpet is used.

The second part shows a nearly symmetrical structure with respect to the sequence of aria, recitative and chorale, however, begins with a Sinfonia and contrasted by a total of more quiet and contemplative character.

Relation to other works

Various passages from Psalm 19 are also set to music by other composers. The first part of the oratorio The Creation ( Hob XXI: 2) by Joseph Haydn ( 1732-1809 ) ends with the chorus, "The heavens declare the glory of God."

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847) has created a motet with the same title. It was established in 1820 and bears the catalog raisonné S 81

Recordings

Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis Thomaskantor Bass (voice type) Baroque trumpet Symphony Karl Richter (conductor) Anna Reynolds (singer) Werner Neumann International Music Score Library Project 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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