Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140

Unknown poet

Awake, the voice is calling us ( BWV 140) is one of the most famous cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach. The work is based on the same chorale of Philipp Nicolai known from the year 1599th

Formation

This chorale cantata was composed for the church year rarely occurring 27th Sunday after Trinity. Premiere was on 25 November 1731.

Topic

The unknown librettist took over all three verses of the hymn literally for the sets 1, 4 and 7; between he added a free sealed recitatives and arias that rely on biblical themes of the Song of Songs of Solomon.

The basic idea of the text is the visual identification of the connection between Jesus and the human soul with a wedding. As with antique oriental weddings, the groom apparently appeared at a time is not exactly fixed, but then expected a decent hard, the soul should be constantly ready to meet God.

Full Sequence

• Set 1 is a particularly far -scale chorale, which reminded her dotted rhythm at the beginning of a French overture: the chorale melody is heard in long notes line by line as a cantus firmus in the soprano, which alto, tenor and bass, imitating one another, play around. The orchestra set contains deep oboe instruments, underlining the beginning " night " mood of the work.
• Set 2 is a tenor recitative announcing the imminent arrival of the groom.
• Theorem 3 is a soprano - bass duet which illustrates the waiting of the soul (soprano ) to Jesus ( bass). Should be noted, the virtuoso passionate solo violin.
• Sentence 4 introduces an embossed by owning melody of unison strings in the tenor of the cantus firmus line by line hineinsingt. Bach took this set later in his collection of organ transcriptions of cantata movements ( the so-called Schübler hymns ) on. In this form, the sentence has become very popular; it is often arranged for other occupations and adapted for pop music.
• Theorem 5 is an accompanied recitative of strings of the bass, where Jesus calls to the soul and appeal to their sense of security.
• Theorem 6 is another soprano bass duet, in the soul and Jesus are now united happily. This is musically represented by numerous melismas and a rousing game of oboes.
• The cantata concludes with a four - part setting of the last chorale verse.

Occupation

• Narrator ( tenor)
• The soul (soprano )
• Jesus (Bass)
• Choir ( SATB)
• Orchestra with 2 oboes, taille (Score designation of the oboe da caccia ), Horn ( as a melody gain), violino piccolo, 2 Violins, Viola, Basso continuo