SKU: CA.402305

ISBN 9790007167851.

Score available separately - see item CA.402300.

SKU: CA.3108013

ISBN 9790007045371. Key: D major. Language: German/English. Text: Luther, Martin. Text: Martin Luther, Salomo Franck.

Bach's Reformation cantata, based on what is probably Martin Luther's most famous hymn, evolved over a period of several years. At the beginning was a Weimar cantata for Oculi Sunday 1716, now missing, which was based on the hymn with an instrumental quotation in the opening aria and with the final chorale. In the Leipzig years around 1730, Bach wrote a cantata for Reformation Day using this material. It began with the first verses of Luther's hymn in a simple four-part setting and also included the other verses. Later on, in the 1730s or 1740s, Bach replaced the introductory chorale movement with a chorale setting which was unique, spacious and motet-like in its style; this - uniquely in this respect - incorporated the choral writing in an instrumental canon for oboes and organ continuo. The powerful opening chorus is followed by recitatives and arias which reflect the full breadth of Bach's art of word painting and emotion. One of Bach's most magnificent cantatas, one of the greatest works in the history of music. In addition to the complete performance material the arrangements of movements 1 and 5 (with 3 trumpets, timpani as playing score) by Wilhelm Friedemann Bach are available (Carus 3108089). Score and part available separately - see item CA.3108000.

SKU: CA.3100209

ISBN 9790007041335. Key: D minor. Language: German/English. Text: Luther, Martin. Text: Martin Luther.

Bach composed the cantata O God, from heaven look on us BWV 2 for the 2nd Trinity Sunday 1724 as the second cantata of the annual cycle of chorale cantatas. It is based on Martin Luther's rewriting of Psalm 112. The opening movement is one of a group of cantata opening movements which are not concertante but kept entirely in the motet style, with the instruments serving only to reinforce the singers. The archaic character of this movement is heightened by the addition of a trombone quartet. The concertante style is all the more significant in the first aria for contralto, solo violin and continuo. The first secco recitative represents a special feature: two fragments of the chorale are woven as arioso into the recitative, both in text and melody; futhermore, they are also taken up canonically by the continuo. Score and parts available separately - see item CA.3100200.

SKU: CA.3106207

ISBN 9790007043599. Key: B minor. Language: German/English. Text: Luther, Martin. Text: Martin Luther.

Bach's second cantata starting with the text Come now, God's chosen saviour (II) BWV 62 was first performed in 1724 on the 1st Advent Sunday (which, at that time, was the only Advent Sunday with church music in Leipzig) and belongs to the annual cycle of chorale cantatas. As was usual for chorale cantatas, the unknown librettist used the first and last verses of Martin Luther's hymn verbatim for the opening chorus and the concluding chorale but adapted the texts of the inner verses. After two contrasting arias - the one dance-like, the second almost heroic - an almost enraptured accompagnato (Wir ehren diese Herrlichtkeit, und nahen nun zu deiner Krippen), in which the soprano and contralto mostly sing in parallel thirds and sixths, leads to a simple concluding chorale. Score available separately - see item CA.3106200.

SKU: CA.3100213

ISBN 9790007041366. Key: D minor. Language: German/English. Text: Luther, Martin. Text: Martin Luther.

Bach composed the cantata O God, from heaven look on us BWV 2 for the 2nd Trinity Sunday 1724 as the second cantata of the annual cycle of chorale cantatas. It is based on Martin Luther's rewriting of Psalm 112. The opening movement is one of a group of cantata opening movements which are not concertante but kept entirely in the motet style, with the instruments serving only to reinforce the singers. The archaic character of this movement is heightened by the addition of a trombone quartet. The concertante style is all the more significant in the first aria for contralto, solo violin and continuo. The first secco recitative represents a special feature: two fragments of the chorale are woven as arioso into the recitative, both in text and melody; futhermore, they are also taken up canonically by the continuo. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3100200.

SKU: CA.302450

ISBN 9790007173883. Key: D major. Text language: German. Text: Luther, Martin. Text by Martin Luther.