O eternal fire, o origin of love, BWV 34a
| Bach cantata | |
|---|---|
| O eternal fire, o origin of love | |
| BWV: | 34a |
| Occasion: | wedding |
| Year of origin: | 1725/26 |
| Place of origin: | Leipzig |
| Genus: | cantata |
| Solo : | S, A, T, B |
| Choir: | (S, A, T, B) |
| Instruments : | 3Tr, Ti; 2Ft, 2Ob; 2Vl, Va; Bc |
| text | |
| unknown | |
| List of Bach cantatas | |
O eternal fire, o origin of love ( BWV 34a) is an incomplete wedding cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach . Only the complete libretto and movements 2, 3 and 6 have survived.
Story and text
Bach composed this cantata in Leipzig around 1725 or 1726, but could also have produced the work in 1727 or later. Shortly after its completion, he performed this cantata at a wedding . Since the choir numbers have been lost, it is not known whether Bach used a chorale as inspiration for the work.
The libretto by an unknown author is based in part on the Bible . Sentences 3 and 4 use Bible verses from Psalm 128 ( Psalms 128, 4-6 EU ) and the final chorale is taken from the 4th book of Moses ( 4th book of Moses 6, 24-26 EU )
Occupation and structure
The piece is written for four soloists ( soprano , alto , tenor and bass ) and four-part SATB choir and is composed of two oboes , two transverse flutes , timpani , three trumpets in D, two violins , one viola and the figured bass .
The cantata has seven movements that are divided into two parts. The first part is performed before the sermon and the second part after it.
- Part 1
- Choir : O eternal fire, o origin of love
- Recitative (bass): Like that love's high power
- Aria (tenor) and recitative (alto): See, so the man who fears the Lord is blessed
- Choir: Peace over Israel
- Part 2
- Aria (alto): Well done to you, you chosen sheep
- Recitative (soprano): That is before you, o honorable man
- Chorus: God, give strength to the word here too
music
The opening choir is based on images of the "eternal fire" shown in the string instruments. Following is a brief secco recitative in the bass, which on an imperfect B Minor - cadence ends. The third movement exists only in reconstructed forms; he probably began with string instruments and the figured bass. Strangely enough, its structure alternates between aria and recitative episodes. The choir calls for peace.
The second part begins with an altarie that also appears in O eternal fire, o origin of love, BWV 34 . It includes flute and violin accompaniment. A short secco soprano recitative leads to the final chorus, for which only soprano and bass parts are available. As a result, it is unclear what role the other voices would have played in the movement.
Recordings
- Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart , Bach-Collegium Stuttgart , Helmuth Rilling . Edition Bachakademie Vol. 140 - Sacred Vocal Works / Magnificat BWV 243a . Hänssler Classic
See also
Web links
- Structure and text
- O eternal fire, o origin of love, BWV 34a : Notes and audio files in the International Music Score Library Project
- O eternal fire, o origin of love BWV 34.2; BWV 34a; BC B 13 Bach digital
Individual evidence
- ↑ Richard Stokes. JS Bach - The Complete Cantatas in German-English Translation , Long Barn Books / Scarecrow Press, 2000, ISBN 0-8108-3933-4
- ↑ Christoph Wolff (Eds.): The world of Bach cantatas, Metzler / Bärenreiter, Stuttgart and Kassel, 3 volumes special edition 2006 ISBN 3-476-02127-0
- ↑ CS Terry and D. Litti, Bach's Cantata Libretti, Journal of the Royal Musical Association 1917 44 (1): 71-125; doi: 10.1093 / jrma / 44.1.71
- ^ University of Alberta
- ↑ a b Julian Mincham
