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Christen, ätzet diesen Tag, BWV 63

March 07, 2023

Christen, ätzet diesen Tag (Christians, engrave this day),[1] BWV 63, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed the Christmas cantata for the First Day of Christmas, possibly in 1713 for the Liebfrauenkirche in Halle. He performed it again for his first Christmas as Thomaskantor in Leipzig, on 25 December 1723.

Christen, ätzet diesen Tag
BWV 63
Christmas cantata by J. S. Bach
Cantata textJohann Michael Heineccius?
Performed
  • 25 December 1713 (1713-12-25): Halle?
  • 25 December 1723 (1723-12-25): Leipzig
Movements7
VocalSATB choir and solo
Instrumental
  • 4 trumpets
  • timpani
  • 3 oboes
  • bassoon
  • 2 violins
  • viola
  • continuo

History and words

The cantata is Bach's earliest extant cantata for Christmas Day, possibly composed in Weimar as early as 1713.[2] The text of the cantata, which echoes theologians in Halle, suggests that it was composed with Halle's Liebfrauenkirche in mind, in 1713, when Bach applied to be organist of this church, or in 1716, when he was involved in rebuilding its organ. The text is possibly by that church's Pastor primarius Johann Michael Heineccius, who also wrote the libretti for other Bach cantatas definitely written for Halle and had favoured Bach's application for organist at the church as a successor to Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow. Musicologist Christoph Wolff deduces from the "lavish forces" of four trumpets, timpani and three oboes on top of the strings, an unprecedented scoring in Bach's cantatas, that the work was not composed for the intimate Schloßkirche in Weimar. He dates it as 1714 or 1715.[3] According to John Eliot Gardiner, the first performance may have taken place in Weimar in the church of St. Peter und Paul, performed by the combined musicians of the ducal Capelle and the town.[4]

The prescribed readings for the feast day were from the Epistle of Titus, "God's mercy appeared" (Titus 2:11–14) or from Isaiah, "Unto us a child is born" (Isaiah 9:2–7), and from the Gospel of Luke, the Nativity, Annunciation to the shepherds and the angels' song (Luke 2:1–14). The poet wrote a text centered in symmetry around a recitative, framed by two duets, two more recitatives and two equal chorus movements. The lack of a closing chorale, which closes most of Bach's later cantatas, has raised the question if the work is based on a secular cantata.[2]

According to Gardiner, the cantata was performed again to celebrate the bicentennial of the Reformation in Halle in 1717.[4] The musicologist Philipp Spitta assumed that the cantata was written for a 1723 premiere in Leipzig, because Bach performed it on the First day of Christmas in his first year as Thomaskantor, turning to new compositions that year only for the Second and Third of Christmas, Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, BWV 40, and Sehet, welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater erzeiget, BWV 64. The musicologist Julian Mincham assumes that Bach chose this cantata for his first Christmas as Thomaskantor because "an inspired piece that commenced and concluded with impressive choruses, was exactly the right work for the occasion and nothing new was likely to eclipse it." It demanded the largest group of performers since Bach had begun his post half a year before, asking for four trumpets, timpani and three oboes in addition to the regular four voice parts and strings.[5] Bach performed the cantata in Leipzig at least one more time, possibly in 1729.[2][3]

Scoring and structure

The cantata in seven movements is festively scored for four vocal soloists (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass), a four-part choir, four trumpets, timpani, three oboes, bassoon, two violins, viola, organ in a later version, and continuo.[2]

  1. Chorus: Christen, ätzet diesen Tag
  2. Recitative (alto): Oh, selger Tag! o ungemeines Heute
  3. Aria (soprano, bass): Gott, du hast es wohl gefüget
  4. Recitative (tenor): So kehret sich nun heut
  5. Aria (alto, tenor): Ruft und fleht den Himmel an
  6. Recitative (bass): Verdoppelt euch demnach
  7. Chorus: Höchster, schau in Gnaden an

Music

The cantata has a festive character but lacks certain features typically associated with Christmas music, such as Pastoral music, angels' song and cradle song, even a Christmas carol or chorale,[2] as Gardiner words it: "The cantata contains none of the usual Nativity themes: no cradle song, no music for the shepherds or for the angels, not even the standard Christmas chorales".[4] The symmetry of the text around the recitative "Nun kehret sich das bange Leid … in lauter Heil und Gnaden" (So now, today, the anxious sorrow is changed … into pure blessing and grace)[1] is reflected in the music. The recitatives lean toward arioso at times, typical for Bach's music in the period. The choral movements show da capo form, but with distinctly contrasting middle sections, which relates to motet style.[2] Wolff describes these movements as "fanfare-like frameworks", a cantabile choral setting contrasting with virtuoso orchestral playing[3] in "secular dance".[4]

Gardiner observes that the first recitative for alto, accompanied by the strings, contains "tortuous passage[s] in which voice and continuo struggle to free themselves from "Satan's slavish chains"".[4] The cantata contains two duets, rare in Bach's cantatas, likely an expression of communal rejoicing which is expressed better in a duet than by a single voice. The second duet is a minuet, illustrating the words "Kommt, ihr Christen, kommt zum Reihen" (Come, you Christians, come to dance).[1][5] Instead of the usual closing chorale, the cantata ends with a chorus "conceived on the largest of scales", full of energy.[5] The trumpets begin with pompous fanfares, the voices first sing a fanfare, addressing the "highest", then open a permutation fugue which is later expanded by instrumental doubling and counteraction, to express the thanks of the devout souls.[4][5] The middle section is a second fugue in similar style which ends with a "preposterous collective trill" on the word "quälen" (torment), observed by Mincham as "a passage of extraordinary intensity. The tempo slows, the harmony becomes tragic and chromatic and the whole feeling is that of deepest melancholy at the very thought of Satan’s embrace". Then a da capo of the complete first section ends the cantata on "the original celebratory flourishes of the complete ritornello theme".[5]

In one of the later performances Bach changed the part of obbligato oboe in movement 3 to an organ, writing it himself in the part for the continuo organ.[3]

Recordings

References

  1. ^ a b c Dellal, Pamela (2021). "BWV 63 – Christen, ätzet diesen Tag". pameladellal.com. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Dürr, Alfred (1981). Die Kantaten von Johann Sebastian Bach (in German). Vol. 1 (4 ed.). Deutscher Taschenbuchverlag. pp. 107–109. ISBN 3-423-04080-7.
  3. ^ a b c d Wolff, Christoph (1995). From konzertmeister to thomaskantor: Bach's cantata production 1713–1723 (PDF). p. 17. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Gardiner, John Eliot (2010). Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) / Cantatas Nos 32, 63, 65, 123, 124 & 154 (Media notes). Soli Deo Gloria (at Hyperion Records website). Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e Mincham, Julian (2010). "Chapter 30 Bwv 63 – The Cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach". jsbachcantatas.com. Retrieved 22 August 2022.

Sources

External links

March 07, 2023
christen, ätzet, diesen, christen, ätzet, diesen, christians, engrave, this, church, cantata, johann, sebastian, bach, composed, christmas, cantata, first, christmas, possibly, 1713, liebfrauenkirche, halle, performed, again, first, christmas, thomaskantor, le. Christen atzet diesen Tag Christians engrave this day 1 BWV 63 is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach He composed the Christmas cantata for the First Day of Christmas possibly in 1713 for the Liebfrauenkirche in Halle He performed it again for his first Christmas as Thomaskantor in Leipzig on 25 December 1723 Christen atzet diesen TagBWV 63Christmas cantata by J S BachLiebfrauenkirche HalleCantata textJohann Michael Heineccius Performed25 December 1713 1713 12 25 Halle 25 December 1723 1723 12 25 LeipzigMovements7VocalSATB choir and soloInstrumental4 trumpetstimpani3 oboesbassoon2 violinsviolacontinuoTown church St Peter und Paul Weimar Contents 1 History and words 2 Scoring and structure 3 Music 4 Recordings 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksHistory and words EditThe cantata is Bach s earliest extant cantata for Christmas Day possibly composed in Weimar as early as 1713 2 The text of the cantata which echoes theologians in Halle suggests that it was composed with Halle s Liebfrauenkirche in mind in 1713 when Bach applied to be organist of this church or in 1716 when he was involved in rebuilding its organ The text is possibly by that church s Pastor primarius Johann Michael Heineccius who also wrote the libretti for other Bach cantatas definitely written for Halle and had favoured Bach s application for organist at the church as a successor to Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow Musicologist Christoph Wolff deduces from the lavish forces of four trumpets timpani and three oboes on top of the strings an unprecedented scoring in Bach s cantatas that the work was not composed for the intimate Schlosskirche in Weimar He dates it as 1714 or 1715 3 According to John Eliot Gardiner the first performance may have taken place in Weimar in the church of St Peter und Paul performed by the combined musicians of the ducal Capelle and the town 4 The prescribed readings for the feast day were from the Epistle of Titus God s mercy appeared Titus 2 11 14 or from Isaiah Unto us a child is born Isaiah 9 2 7 and from the Gospel of Luke the Nativity Annunciation to the shepherds and the angels song Luke 2 1 14 The poet wrote a text centered in symmetry around a recitative framed by two duets two more recitatives and two equal chorus movements The lack of a closing chorale which closes most of Bach s later cantatas has raised the question if the work is based on a secular cantata 2 According to Gardiner the cantata was performed again to celebrate the bicentennial of the Reformation in Halle in 1717 4 The musicologist Philipp Spitta assumed that the cantata was written for a 1723 premiere in Leipzig because Bach performed it on the First day of Christmas in his first year as Thomaskantor turning to new compositions that year only for the Second and Third of Christmas Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes BWV 40 and Sehet welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater erzeiget BWV 64 The musicologist Julian Mincham assumes that Bach chose this cantata for his first Christmas as Thomaskantor because an inspired piece that commenced and concluded with impressive choruses was exactly the right work for the occasion and nothing new was likely to eclipse it It demanded the largest group of performers since Bach had begun his post half a year before asking for four trumpets timpani and three oboes in addition to the regular four voice parts and strings 5 Bach performed the cantata in Leipzig at least one more time possibly in 1729 2 3 Scoring and structure EditThe cantata in seven movements is festively scored for four vocal soloists soprano alto tenor and bass a four part choir four trumpets timpani three oboes bassoon two violins viola organ in a later version and continuo 2 Chorus Christen atzet diesen Tag Recitative alto Oh selger Tag o ungemeines Heute Aria soprano bass Gott du hast es wohl gefuget Recitative tenor So kehret sich nun heut Aria alto tenor Ruft und fleht den Himmel an Recitative bass Verdoppelt euch demnach Chorus Hochster schau in Gnaden anMusic EditThe cantata has a festive character but lacks certain features typically associated with Christmas music such as Pastoral music angels song and cradle song even a Christmas carol or chorale 2 as Gardiner words it The cantata contains none of the usual Nativity themes no cradle song no music for the shepherds or for the angels not even the standard Christmas chorales 4 The symmetry of the text around the recitative Nun kehret sich das bange Leid in lauter Heil und Gnaden So now today the anxious sorrow is changed into pure blessing and grace 1 is reflected in the music The recitatives lean toward arioso at times typical for Bach s music in the period The choral movements show da capo form but with distinctly contrasting middle sections which relates to motet style 2 Wolff describes these movements as fanfare like frameworks a cantabile choral setting contrasting with virtuoso orchestral playing 3 in secular dance 4 Gardiner observes that the first recitative for alto accompanied by the strings contains tortuous passage s in which voice and continuo struggle to free themselves from Satan s slavish chains 4 The cantata contains two duets rare in Bach s cantatas likely an expression of communal rejoicing which is expressed better in a duet than by a single voice The second duet is a minuet illustrating the words Kommt ihr Christen kommt zum Reihen Come you Christians come to dance 1 5 Instead of the usual closing chorale the cantata ends with a chorus conceived on the largest of scales full of energy 5 The trumpets begin with pompous fanfares the voices first sing a fanfare addressing the highest then open a permutation fugue which is later expanded by instrumental doubling and counteraction to express the thanks of the devout souls 4 5 The middle section is a second fugue in similar style which ends with a preposterous collective trill on the word qualen torment observed by Mincham as a passage of extraordinary intensity The tempo slows the harmony becomes tragic and chromatic and the whole feeling is that of deepest melancholy at the very thought of Satan s embrace Then a da capo of the complete first section ends the cantata on the original celebratory flourishes of the complete ritornello theme 5 In one of the later performances Bach changed the part of obbligato oboe in movement 3 to an organ writing it himself in the part for the continuo organ 3 Recordings EditJ S Bach Cantata BWV 63 Michael Gielen Wiener Kammerchor Vienna State Opera Orchestra Margit Opawsky Hilde Rossel Majdan Waldemar Kmentt Harald Hermann Vanguard Bach Guild 1952 J S Bach Cantata 63 Christen atzet diesen Tag and the Magnificat Gunther Ramin Thomanerchor Gewandhausorchester Ulrike Taube Sibylla Plate Gert Lutze Hannes Hans Hauptmann Schola Antiqua 1953 Die Bach Kantate Vol 61 Helmuth Rilling Gachinger Kantorei Bach Collegium Stuttgart Maria Friesenhausen Julia Hamari Adalbert Kraus Wolfgang Schone Hanssler 1971 Bach Cantatas Vol 1 Advent and Christmas Karl Richter Munchener Bach Chor Munchener Bach Orchester Edith Mathis Anna Reynolds Peter Schreier Dietrich Fischer Dieskau Archiv Produktion 1972 J S Bach Das Kantatenwerk Complete Cantatas Vol 16 Nikolaus Harnoncourt Tolzer Knabenchor Concentus Musicus Wien Peter Jelosits soloist of Wiener Sangerknaben Paul Esswood Kurt Equiluz Ruud van der Meer Teldec 242565 2 1976 J S Bach Complete Cantatas Vol 3 Ton Koopman Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra amp Choir Ruth Holton Elisabeth von Magnus Paul Agnew Klaus Mertens Antoine Marchand 1995 J S Bach Cantatas Vol 7 Masaaki Suzuki Bach Collegium Japan Ingrid Schmithusen Yoshikazu Mera Makoto Sakurada Peter Kooy BIS 1997 J S Bach Christmas Cantatas John Eliot Gardiner Monteverdi Choir English Baroque Soloists Ann Monoyios Sara Mingardo Rufus Muller Stephan Loges Soli Deo Gloria 1998 Bach Edition Vol 18 Cantatas Vol 9 Pieter Jan Leusink Holland Boys Choir Netherlands Bach Collegium Marjon Strijk Sytse Buwalda Nico van der Meel Bas Ramselaar Brilliant Classics 2000 J S Bach Christmas Cantatas from Leipzig Philippe Herreweghe Collegium Vocale Gent Carolyn Sampson Ingeborg Danz Mark Padmore Sebastian Noack Harmonia Mundi France 2002 Bach Cantata 63 Mendelssohn Vom Himmel hoch Vaughan Williams The First Nowell Vladimir Jurowski London Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir Lisa Milne Ruxandra Donose Andrew Staples Christopher Maltman LPO 2009 Thomanerchor Leipzig Das Kirchenjahr mit Bach Vol 2 Weihnachten Christmas Cantatas BWV 63 110 190 Georg Christoph Biller Thomanerchor Gewandhausorchester soloist of the Thomanerchor Christoph Genz Matthias Weichert Rondeau Production 2011References Edit a b c Dellal Pamela 2021 BWV 63 Christen atzet diesen Tag pameladellal com Retrieved 23 December 2021 a b c d e f Durr Alfred 1981 Die Kantaten von Johann Sebastian Bach in German Vol 1 4 ed Deutscher Taschenbuchverlag pp 107 109 ISBN 3 423 04080 7 a b c d Wolff Christoph 1995 From konzertmeister to thomaskantor Bach s cantata production 1713 1723 PDF p 17 Retrieved 21 June 2011 a b c d e f Gardiner John Eliot 2010 Johann Sebastian Bach 1685 1750 Cantatas Nos 32 63 65 123 124 amp 154 Media notes Soli Deo Gloria at Hyperion Records website Retrieved 31 December 2018 a b c d e Mincham Julian 2010 Chapter 30 Bwv 63 The Cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach jsbachcantatas com Retrieved 22 August 2022 Sources EditChristen atzet diesen Tag BWV 63 Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Christen atzet diesen Tag BWV 63 BC A 8 Sacred cantata 1st Christmas Day Leipzig University Cantata BWV 63 Christen atzet diesen Tag history scoring sources for text and music translations to various languages discography discussion bach cantatas website BWV 63 Christen atzet diesen Tag English translation University of Vermont BWV 63 Christen atzet diesen Tag text scoring University of AlbertaExternal links EditChristen atzet diesen Tag BWV 63 performance by the Netherlands Bach Society video and background information Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Christen atzet diesen Tag BWV 63 amp oldid 1105862048, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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