Bach created a very special chorale cantata for the Feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary (2 July 1724): Unusually, the work is not based on a Protestant hymn, but on a Gregorian chorale (9th psalm tone). The German-language Magnificat – the textual basis of the cantata – was sung to this melody at church services in Leipzig. As was customary in the chorale cantatas of the years 1724/25, the text of the Magnificat was paraphrased to fit the requirements of the musical form. The original biblical text is heard, however, in the opening chorus and the final chorale, as well as in the fifth movement (a duet), which can be viewed as the climax of the work: After the feisty bass continuo aria “Gewaltige stößt Gott vom Thron” (The mighty ones from off their seats), Luther’s original text “Er denket der Barmherzigkeit und hilft seinem Diener Israel auf” (The Lord hath holpen Israel) is heard as a ravishing duet of heavenly simplicity for alto and tenor, plainly accompanied by continuo. Between these voices, the trumpet (replaced by two oboes at a late revival) intones the chorale melody (which also features in one of the Schübler chorales, namely BWV 648).
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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
Christoph Großpietsch
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