The cantata Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern (How beauteous is the morning star), BWV 1, is a particularly significant composition: its completion on 25 March 1725 brought to an abrupt halt – after about nine months of work and for reasons still unknown – Bach’s ambitious aim of creating a year-cycle of chorale cantatas. Moreover, this was also the first volume, published in 1851, of the first complete edition of Bach’s works. The cantata, which is based on a well-known hymn, begins with a concertante movement featuring two solo violins in addition to horns, oboes da caccia and strings, into which the chorale lines are embedded. The solo violins return in the second aria (tenor), while the first aria, framed by two secco recitatives, makes do with oboe da caccia alongside soprano and basso continuo. In the concluding chorale, all instruments double the vocal parts with the exception of the second horn, whose independent voice lends the movement a unique sound.
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Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach
| 1685-1750Johann Sebastian Bach is one of the most important composers of Western music history. He came from a widely ramified musical dynasty, which produced numerous musicians and organists in the Thuringian-Saxon area.
Bach vocal
Ever since Carus-Verlag was founded in 1972, publishing the music of Johann Sebastian Bach has been a special focus for us. In the 2017 Reformation anniversary year we completed the Bach vocal project. Bach's complete sacred vocal works are now available in modern Urtext editions, together with performance material. A complete edition of all the full scores is also available in a high quality box set. Personal details
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Editor
Reinhold Kubik
| 1942
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Songwriter / Librettist
Philipp Nicolai
| 1556-1608
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Continuo realization
Paul Horn
| 1922-2016Paul Horn war ein deutscher Kirchenmusiker, Organist, Komponist und Musikwissenschaftler. Er studierte Kirchenmusik und Orgel an der Evangelischen Kirchenmusikschule Esslingen am Neckar bei Hans-Arnold Metzger und Musikwissenschaft, Theologie und Geschichte an der Universität Tübingen. Seine berufliche Laufbahn begann als Kantor an der Evangelischen Michaelskirche in Stuttgart-Degerloch. 1954 wurde er Kantor an der Evangelischen Stadtkirche Ravensburg, eine Position, die er bis zu seiner Pensionierung innehatte. Als Musikwissenschaftler arbeitete Horn bis ins hohe Alter eng mit Carus zusammen. So stammen zahlreiche Carus-Klavierauszüge aus seiner Feder. Personal details
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Translator
Jean Lunn
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