Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, BWV 40
Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes | |
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BWV 233 | |
Occasion | Second Day of Christmas |
Bible text | 1 John 3:8 |
Performed | 26 December 1723 Leipzig : |
Movements | 8 |
Vocal |
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Instrumental |
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Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes (For this the Son of God appeared),
The theme of the work is Jesus as the conqueror of the works of the devil, who is frequently mentioned as the
Bach used the opening chorus for the concluding Cum Sancto Spiritu in his 1738 Missa in F major, BWV 233.
History
Bach composed the cantata in his first year in
No fewer than three
The cantata was the first Christmas cantata composed for Leipzig. Bach first performed it on 26 December 1723,[10] and once more, in either 1746 or 1747. For the Christmas season of 1723, from the First Day of Christmas to Epiphany, Bach had performed a program of six cantatas, five of them new compositions, and two major other choral works:
- 25 December
- Main service: Christen, ätzet diesen Tag, BWV 63 and a new Sanctus in D major, BWV 238
- vespers service, BWV 63 and the Magnificat in E-flat major, BWV 243a
- 26 December: this cantata
- 27 December: Sehet, welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater erzeiget, BWV 64
- 1 January: Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 190
- 2 January: Schau, lieber Gott, wie meine Feind, BWV 153
- 6 January: Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen, BWV 65
The cantatas were performed twice on the principal feast days, in the main service, alternating in one of the two major churches of Leipzig
Bach parodied the first movement of this cantata for the Cum Sancto Spiritu fugue in his 1738 Missa in F major, BWV 233.[12]
Scoring and structure
For the festive occasion, the cantata is scored for three vocal soloists—alto, tenor and bass—a four-part choir, two horns (corno da caccia), two oboes, two violins, viola and basso continuo.[13] Bach later used a similar scoring in Part IV of his Christmas Oratorio, to be performed on New Year's Day.
The cantata consists of eight movements:
No. | Title | Type | Vocal | Winds | Strings | Brass | Key | Time |
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1 | Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes | Chorus | SATB | 2Ob | 2Vl Va Bc | 2Hrn | F major | |
2 | Das Wort ward Fleisch | Recitative | Tenor | Bc | ||||
3 | Die Sünd macht Leid | Choral | SATB | 1Ob (col Soprano), 1 Ob (coll'Alto) |
1Vl (col Soprano), 1Vl (coll'Alto), Va (col Tenore), Bc |
1Hrn (col Soprano) | G minor | |
4 | Höllische Schlange, wird dir nicht bange? | Aria | Bass | 2Ob | 2Vl, Va, Bc | D minor | 3/8 | |
5 | Die Schlange, so im Paradies | Recitative | Alto | 2Vl, Va, Bc | ||||
6 | Schüttle deinen Kopf und sprich | Choral | SATB | 1Ob (col Soprano), 1Ob (coll'Alto) |
1Vl (col Soprano), 1Vl (coll'Alto), Va (col Tenor), Bc |
1Hrn (col Soprano) | D minor | |
7 | Christenkinder, freuet euch! | Aria | Tenor | 2Ob | Bc | 2Hrn | F major | 12/8 |
8 | Jesu, nimm dich deiner Glieder | Choral | SATB | 1Ob (col Soprano), 1Ob (coll'Alto) |
1Vl (col Soprano), 1Vl (coll'Alto), Va (col Tenore), Bc |
1Hrn (col Soprano) | F minor |
Music
According to
- Chorus, recitative, chorale – "Christ's purpose in a world of sin"
- Aria, recitative, chorale – "Christ's actions in dispelling Satan"
- Aria, chorale – "consequential Christian delight"
Bach used material from the chorales in his own composition, for example deriving the first horn motif from the beginning of the chorale tune of the first chorale. This suggests that he had chosen the structure before he began the composition.[6]
The opening chorus in F major is a setting of the short text "Dazu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, daß er die Werke des Teufels zerstöre." (For this the Son of God appeared, that he might destroy the works of the Devil.)[1][13] Klaus Hofmann notes: "This work of destruction is portrayed in the chorus by repeated percussive notes and extended coloratura, but all these illustrative elements are subordinated to a festive Christmas spirit".[14] The horns open the ritornello with a short signal-like motif[15] that is picked up by the oboes and the strings.[16] The movement resembles a prelude and fugue,[12] because the text is first presented in homophony to a repeat of the beginning of the ritornello, then repeated as a fugue,[17] and finally repeated in madrigal style similar to the first section.[18]
The short secco recitative, sung by the tenor, the typical voice for Evangelist narration, delivers the message "Das Wort ward Fleisch und wohnet in der Welt" (The word became flesh and lived in the world).[1] The chorale, set for four parts, returns to the thought of sin, "Die Sünd macht Leid" (Sin makes suffering).[1][17] The bass line rises to affirm the last line "Wer ist, der uns als Christen kann verdammen?" (Who could condemn us as Christians?).[1][6]
The bass aria "Höllische Schlange, wird dir nicht bange?" (Hellish serpent, are you not afraid)[1] is accompanied by oboes and strings. Hofmann describes it as a "wide-ranging, operatic bass solo, triumphant about the 'hellish snake'".[18] The accompagnato recitative "Die Schlange, so im Paradies" (The serpent that in Paradise)[1] explains that sin has been redeemed.[20] The second chorale "Schüttle deinen Kopf und sprich" (Shake your head and say)[1] is also a four-part setting.[21] The vivid bass line illustrates the crushing of the serpent's head.[6]
The tenor aria "Christenkinder, freuet euch!" (Christian children, rejoice!)[1] is accompanied by both horns and oboes[18] and stresses the words "freuet" (be glad) by extended coloraturas and "erschrecken" (terrify) by sudden rests. It reflects the joyful mood of the opening chorus. The cantata is closed by "Jesu, nimm dich deiner Glieder" (Jesu, take to Yourself Your members),[1] the third four-part chorale, asking Jesus for further support in the new year.[21] For several passages, the bass line is moving to illustrate joy and bliss. The harmonisation begins in F minor, changes several times according to the words and reaches F major on the final word "Genadensonne" (Sun of mercy).[1][6]
Recordings
The entries are taken from the listing on the Bach Cantatas Website.[22] Ensemble with period instruments in historically informed performance are marked by green background.
Title | Conductor / Choir / Orchestra | Soloists | Label | Year | Orch. type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Les Grandes Cantates de J. S. Bach Vol. 20 | Heinrich-Schütz-Chor HeilbronnPforzheim Chamber Orchestra
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Erato | 1964 | ||
Die Bach Kantate Vol. 62 | Helmuth RillingFiguralchor der Gedächtniskirche StuttgartBach-Collegium Stuttgart | Hänssler
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1970 | ||
J. S. Bach: Das Kantatenwerk • Complete Cantatas • Les Cantates, Folge / Vol. 3 | Gustav LeonhardtKnabenchor HannoverLeonhardt-Consort |
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Teldec | 1975 | Period |
Bach Made in Germany Vol. 4 – Cantatas IX | Hans-Joachim RotzschThomanerchorNeues Bachisches Collegium Musicum |
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Eterna | 1981 | |
J. S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 8 | Ton KoopmanAmsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir | Antoine Marchand | 1998 | Period | |
Bach Christmas Cantatas | Craig Smithchorus of Emmanuel Musicorchestra of Emmanuel Music | Koch International | 1990 | Period | |
Bach Edition Vol. 15 – Cantatas Vol. 8 | Holland Boys ChoirNetherlands Bach Collegium
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Brilliant Classics | 2000 | Period | |
J. S. Bach: Cantatas Vol. 15 – Cantatas from Leipzig 1723 | Masaaki SuzukiBach Collegium Japan | BIS | 2000 | Period | |
Bach Cantatas Vol. 14: New York | John Eliot GardinerMonteverdi ChoirEnglish Baroque Soloists |
|
Soli Deo Gloria | 2000 | Period
|
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Dellal 2021.
- ^ a b Dürr 1981, p. 119–120.
- ^ Browne & Oron 2005.
- ^ Browne & Oron 2006.
- ^ Browne, Oron & December 2005.
- ^ a b c d e Mincham 2010.
- ^ Braatz & Oron 2005.
- ^ Braatz, Oron & December 2005.
- ^ Braatz, Oron & October 2005.
- ^ Dürr 1981, p. 119.
- ^ Wolff 1998, p. 12.
- ^ a b Wolff 1998, p. 14.
- ^ a b Dürr 1981, p. 120.
- ^ Hofmann 2000, p. 6–7.
- ^ Hofmann 2000, p. 6.
- ^ Dürr 1981, p. 120–121.
- ^ a b c Dürr 1981, p. 121.
- ^ a b c Hofmann 2000, p. 7.
- ^ Gardiner 2005, p. 3.
- ^ Traupman-Carr 2006.
- ^ a b Dürr 1981, p. 122.
- ^ Oron 2012.
Cited sources
Scores
- Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, BWV 40: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
- "Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes BWV 40; BC A 12 / Sacred cantata (2nd Christmas Day)". Bach Digital. 2000. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
Books
- ISBN 3-423-04080-7.
Online sources
Several databases provide additional information on each cantata, such as history, scoring, sources for text and music, translations to various languages, discography, discussion, and musical analysis.
The complete recordings of Bach's cantatas are accompanied by liner notes from musicians and musicologists:
- Ambrose, Z. Philip (2012). "BWV 40 Dazu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes". University of Vermont. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- Bach, Peter (2012). "Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes" (in German). bach.de. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- Bischof, Walter F. (2012). "BWV 40 Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes". University of Alberta. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- Braatz, Thomas; Oron, Aryeh (2005). "Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works / Wir Christenleut habn jetzund Freud". bach-cantatas.com. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
- Braatz, Thomas; Oron, Aryeh (2005). "Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works / Freuet euch, ihr Christen alle". bach-cantatas.com. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
- Braatz, Thomas; Oron, Aryeh (2005). "Chorale Melodies used in Bach's Vocal Works / Schwing dich auf zu deinem Gott". bach-cantatas.com. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
- Browne, Francis; Oron, Aryeh (2005). "Wir Christenleut habn jetzund Freud / Text and Translation of Chorale". bach-cantatas.com. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
- Browne, Francis; Oron, Aryeh (2005). "Freuet euch, ihr Christen alle / Text and Translation of Chorale". bach-cantatas.com. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
- Browne, Francis; Oron, Aryeh (2006). "Schwing dich auf zu deinem Gott / Text and Translation of Chorale". bach-cantatas.com. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
- Dellal, Pamela (2021). "BWV 40 – "Dazu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes"". pameladellal.com. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- Gardiner, John Eliot (2005). Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) / Cantatas Nos 40, 91, 110 & 121 (Media notes). Soli Deo Gloria (at Hyperion Records website). Retrieved 31 December 2018.
- Hofmann, Klaus (2000). "Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, BWV 40" (PDF). bach-cantatas.com. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- Mincham, Julian (2010). "Chapter 31 Bwv 40 – The Cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach". jsbachcantatas.com. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- Oron, Aryeh (2012). "Cantata BWV 40 Dazu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes". bach-cantatas. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- Traupman-Carr, Carol (2006). "Cantata BWV 40 Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes". The Bach Choir of Bethlehem. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
- Wolff, Christoph (1998). "On the first cycle of Bach's cantatas for the Leipzig liturgy (1723–1724) (III)" (PDF). bach-cantatas.com. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
External links
- Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, BWV 40: performance by the Netherlands Bach Society (video and background information)
- Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, BWV 40: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
- Luke Dahn: BWV 40.3, BWV 40.6, BWV 40.8 bach-chorales.com