Magnificat (Johann Sebastian Bach)

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Autograph of the late version in D major: first page of the score with the first six bars of the first movement

Johann Sebastian Bach's setting of the Latin Magnificat is available in two different versions. The first version ( BWV 243a) is in E flat major . It was premiered in 1723. The second version (BWV 243) is in D major . It was written between 1732 and 1735, most likely in 1733. This is the most played version to this day.

Emergence

Following the traditional view, Bach composed the first version of the work in E flat major in the Advent season of 1723. In contrast, the Bach researcher Andreas Glöckner hypothesized in 2003 that it had already been written for a performance on the Feast of the Visitation on July 2, 1723. Following the tradition of Leipzig church music, four German Christmas carols were inserted into the Latin text for a performance at a Christmas festival - not necessarily in 1723, as there is no evidence of such a performance in that year . According to Glöckner, the handwritten findings of the autograph speak in favor of a subsequent addition. The four inserted carols were doing a small ensemble from the small, now-defunct "Swallow's Nest" -Empore the Thomas Church makes music out. The fourth of the songs has only survived in fragments, but could be reconstructed because it is parodied in movement 5 of the cantata BWV 110, Our mouth is full of laughter .

For the second version in D major, Bach changed the instrumental line-up, defused the harmoniously bolder version of 1723 in numerous details and deleted the inserted Christmas carols again.

occupation

Singing parts: soprano I / II, alto , tenor , bass

Instruments: Tromba I – III, timpani , flauto traverso I / II ( flauto dolce I / II in the early version), oboe or oboe d'amore I / II, strings, basso continuo

construction

In accordance with the customs of the late baroque, the work is in the form of a cantata , the text is therefore divided into several differently composed movements. The insert rates of the early version are shown indented below.

  1. Choir: Magnificat
  2. Aria (Soprano II): Et ex (s) ultavit spiritus meus
    A. Choral motette: From heaven high
  3. Aria (Soprano I): Quia respexit humilitatem
  4. Choir: Omnes generationes
  5. Aria (bass): Quia fecit mihi magna
    B. Choir: Rejoice and celebrate
  6. Duet (alto, tenor): Et misericordia
  7. Choir: Fecit potentiam
    C. Choir: Gloria in excelsis Deo
  8. Aria (tenor): Deposuit potentes
  9. Aria (alto): Esurientes implevit bonis
    D. Duet (soprano, bass): Virga Jesse floruit
  10. Terzetto (soprano I / II, alto): Suscepit Israel
  11. Choir: Sicut locutus est
  12. Choir: Gloria Patri

structure

Besides the B minor Mass and the Lutheran Masses , Bach's Magnificat is the only surviving setting of a Latin text. The work, set for a five-part choir and a festive baroque orchestra with timpani and trumpets, is characterized by a symmetrical structure. The focus of the composition is the choir Fecit potentiam (No. 7). This movement as well as the two opening movements ( Magnificat and Et ex (s) ultavit ) and the two closing movements ( Sicut locutus est and the doxology Gloria ) are in the tonic , i.e. H. E flat major in the version from 1723 and D major in the version from 1733. In addition, in the second part of the Gloria from Sicut erat, the musical material of the opening movement is repeated. The aria Quia respexit (No. 3) and the trio Suscepit Israel (No. 10) use the minor parallel in C minor (version 1723) and B minor (version 1733). In between there are other keys.

literature

Secondary literature

  • Rudolf Flicker, Horst Müller: Magnificat in D major. In: Heribert Allen, Hans Gebhard, Reinhold Stieber (Hrsg.): Chorsinfonik Werkkunde. 4th edition. Association of German Concert Choirs, Weimar 2017, ISBN 978-3-929698-04-6 , p. 40 f.
  • Christoph Rueger, Hans Gebhard: Magnificat in D major BWV 243. In: Hans Gebhard (Hrsg.): Harenberg Chormusikführer. Harenberg, Dortmund 1999, ISBN 3-611-00817-6 , p. 75 f.
  • Christoph Wolff : Johann Sebastian Bach. Updated new edition. Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 2005, ISBN 3-596-16739-6 , p. 311 ff.
  • Peter Wollny: Magnificat. In: Silke Leopold, Ulrich Scheideler (Eds.): Oratorienführer. Metzler / Bärenreiter, Stuttgart / Kassel 2000, ISBN 3-476-00977-7 , p. 34 f.

Sheet music editions

  • Ulrich Leisinger (Ed.), Paul Horn (piano reduction): Johann Sebastian Bach. Magnificat in D. piano reduction. Carus, Stuttgart 2002, ISMN 979-0-007-08988-7 (search in the DNB portal) .
  • István Máriássy (Ed.): Johann Sebastian Bach. Magnificat. Vocal score. Könemnann, Budapest 1998, ISBN 963-9059-91-9 .

Web links

Digital copies

Sheet music and audio files

Further information

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Andreas Glöckner: Bach's Magnificat in E flat major BWV 243a - genuine Christmas music? In: Bach-Jahrbuch 89 (2003), pp. 37–45.
  2. ↑ Autograph 1732: exultavit , Bach Society 1862: exultavit , Bärenreiter 1955: exsultavit .