Bach, J S - Cantata No. 001: Wie schoen leuchtet der Morgenstern (BWV 1)

Bach, Johann Sebastian    (1685-1750)

How bright and fair the morning star   BWV 1
Cantata for the Feast of Annunciation
Partitur siehe TP 1001
Instrumentation: Soprano solo, Alto solo, Tenor solo, Bass solo, Mixed Choir-SATB, 2 Horn, 2 Oboe, Strings, Organ/ Basso continuo

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* n The cantata Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern BWV 1 was written for 25 March 1725, when the Feast of the Annunciation of t
The cantata “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern” BWV 1 was written for 25 March 1725, when the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Mary coincided with Palm Sunday. It forms the conclusion of Bach’s cantata cycle of 1724/25.
The anonymous librettist retained the outer verses 1 and 7 of Philipp Nicolai’s text (1599) which is assigned to the feast of Epiphany according to old tradition but was also sung at the Annunciation of the Blessed Mary. Verses 2 to 6 form the basis for the tenor and bass recitatives and the soprano and tenor arias.
Bach’s composition has a particularly festive brilliance with his use of 2 horns, 2 oboes da caccia and the two concertante solo violins. The violins’ lively figurations clearly reflect an image of the shining morning star.
- Urtext of the New Bach Edition
- Original German text with English singing translation
- Idiomatic and easy-to-play piano reduction

Additional Information:

1. (Coro): Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern / How bright and fair
the morning star
2. Recitativo (Tenore): Du wahrer Gottes und Marien Sohn / Thou very
son of God and Mary born
3. Aria (Soprano): Erfüllet, ihr himmlischen, göttlichen Flammen /
Come kindle, thou heavenly bright shining beacon
4. Recitativo (Basso): Ein irdscher Glanz, ein lieblich Licht / Our
hearts rejoice in no false light
5. Aria (Tenore): Unser Mund und Ton der Saiten / Harp and viol,
voices blending
6. Choral: Wie bin ich doch so herzlich froh / What joy my Saviour
brings to me

Cantata 1 vocal score