The merry chase, the hunt is my delight
Hunting Cantata BWV 208 (BWV3 208.1), 1713
“A joyful dispute of the gods” is how Johann Sebastian Bach’s librettist Salomon Franck described the Birthday Cantata for the court of Saxony-Weißenfels, now generally known as the “Hunting Cantata” BWV 208. The work was probably first performed with the composer present on 23 February 1713, Duke Christian’s 31st birthday. On that occasion the choir may have been comprised only of the four soloists, but it can of course be larger. Bach also went on to perform this colorful and varied work, comprising 15 short movements, several times.
As the cantata begins with a recitative, there is an opportunity to precede it with an instrumental movement. A suitable piece is the opening movement of the 1st Brandenburg Concerto BWV 1046 with its hunting horn sounds, which Bach also used later in other works such as the church cantata BWV 52. The edition includes this movement from BWV 1046a (the oldest version) as a performance suggestion.
As the cantata begins with a recitative, there is an opportunity to precede it with an instrumental movement. A suitable piece is the opening movement of the 1st Brandenburg Concerto BWV 1046 with its hunting horn sounds, which Bach also used later in other works such as the church cantata BWV 52. The edition includes this movement from BWV 1046a (the oldest version) as a performance suggestion.
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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
Ulrich Leisinger
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Songwriter / Librettist
Salomon Franck
| 1659-1725
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Continuo realization
Andreas Gräsle
| 1964Andreas Gräsle (harmonium) studied church music in Stuttgart (organ: Jon Laukvik) and took his concert diploma in organ with Daniel Roth in Saarbrücken, followed by early music studies with Andrea Marcon. He was a scholarship holder of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), and a prizewinner at the International Johann Pachelbel Competition in Nuremberg in 1991. From 1996 to 2003 he was choirmaster and organist at the Augustinuskirche in Schwäbisch Gmünd, and in April 2003 he became district choirmaster in Ditzingen. In addition, he is much in demand as chamber music partner, organist and harpsichordist. He has made several CDs of organ and chamber music, and his own improvisations and arrangements of children’s songs round off his musical activities. He has taught score reading at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart since 1997. Personal details
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Translator
Henry Drinker
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