Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft (Now is [come] salvation and strength), BWV50, is a choral movement long attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach and assumed to be part of a lost cantata.
The text and scoring point towards its being written for a Michaelmas celebration. In Leipzig, where Bach was employed from 1723, the feast was celebrated with large-scale church music and also a trade fair. American Bach scholar William H. Scheide suggested that the work was written in 1723, Bach's first year in the city.[1] However, the exact dates of composition and first performance are unknown.[2]
The work was first published in 1860 in a volume of cantatas, part of the first complete edition of Bach's music, the Bach-Gesellschaft Ausgabe (BGA). It has fascinated Bach scholars because of questions about its provenance. No autograph sources exist, and the earliest copies extant do not mention Bach's name.[3] In 1982, Scheide argued that the existing version (for double choir) is an arrangement by an unknown hand of a lost original for five voices by J. S. Bach. His argument was based on irregularities in BWV 50's part-writing, which are highly unlike the writing of Bach.[1] In 2000, the American performer and scholar Joshua Rifkin argued that a more plausible solution of this puzzle is that the author of BWV 50 was not Bach at all, but an unknown (but highly gifted) composer of the era. The suggestion is controversial.[4]
The prescribed readings for Michaelmas were from Revelation 12:7–12 and Matthew 18:1–11; this movement draws from Revelation 12:10.[2] Its text is "Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft und das Reich und die Macht unsers Gottes seines Christus worden, weil der verworfen ist, der sie verklagete Tag und Nacht vor Gott".[5]
Like other cantatas for Michaelmas, it features texture layering from the lowest range to the highest, and a contrapuntal representation of "battles and massing armies". It is in two distinct sections and uses fugal techniques.[6]
The movement begins with a "strong declaration in unharmonized octaves", pairing the low strings with the bass voice of the first choir. A rhythmic shift creates a "floating, turn-around feeling" before the tenor line enters, followed by alto and soprano. As this choir shifts into rhythmic counterpoint, the second choir, trumpet, and oboes enter. The movement also incorporates call-and-response, military-like tattoos, and an inversion of the previous order of thematic entry. The final twelve bars adopt a chromatic style not heard earlier in the piece.[7]
Recordings
Berliner Philharmonischer Chor / Berliner Philharmoniker, Carl Schuricht. J. S. Bach: Motet, Singet dem Herrn; Cantata No. 50; Cantata No. 104. Telefunken, 1934/8.
Cantata Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft, BWV 50: performance by the Netherlands Bach Society (video and background information)
April 28, 2023
heil, kraft, heil, kraft, come, salvation, strength, choral, movement, long, attributed, johann, sebastian, bach, assumed, part, lost, cantata, text, scoring, point, towards, being, written, michaelmas, celebration, leipzig, where, bach, employed, from, 1723, . Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft Now is come salvation and strength BWV 50 is a choral movement long attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach and assumed to be part of a lost cantata The text and scoring point towards its being written for a Michaelmas celebration In Leipzig where Bach was employed from 1723 the feast was celebrated with large scale church music and also a trade fair American Bach scholar William H Scheide suggested that the work was written in 1723 Bach s first year in the city 1 However the exact dates of composition and first performance are unknown 2 Contents 1 History and text 2 Scoring 3 Music 4 Recordings 5 References 6 External linksHistory and text EditThe work was first published in 1860 in a volume of cantatas part of the first complete edition of Bach s music the Bach Gesellschaft Ausgabe BGA It has fascinated Bach scholars because of questions about its provenance No autograph sources exist and the earliest copies extant do not mention Bach s name 3 In 1982 Scheide argued that the existing version for double choir is an arrangement by an unknown hand of a lost original for five voices by J S Bach His argument was based on irregularities in BWV 50 s part writing which are highly unlike the writing of Bach 1 In 2000 the American performer and scholar Joshua Rifkin argued that a more plausible solution of this puzzle is that the author of BWV 50 was not Bach at all but an unknown but highly gifted composer of the era The suggestion is controversial 4 The prescribed readings for Michaelmas were from Revelation 12 7 12 and Matthew 18 1 11 this movement draws from Revelation 12 10 2 Its text is Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft und das Reich und die Macht unsers Gottes seines Christus worden weil der verworfen ist der sie verklagete Tag und Nacht vor Gott 5 Scoring EditThe movement is a chorus or coro doppio 5 for two four part choirs The piece requires a relatively large baroque orchestra three trumpets timpani three oboes two violins viola and basso continuo 5 Bach cantatas known to be written for Michaelmas share similar festive instrumentation for example Herr Gott dich loben alle wir BWV 130 performed in 1724 Music EditLike other cantatas for Michaelmas it features texture layering from the lowest range to the highest and a contrapuntal representation of battles and massing armies It is in two distinct sections and uses fugal techniques 6 The movement begins with a strong declaration in unharmonized octaves pairing the low strings with the bass voice of the first choir A rhythmic shift creates a floating turn around feeling before the tenor line enters followed by alto and soprano As this choir shifts into rhythmic counterpoint the second choir trumpet and oboes enter The movement also incorporates call and response military like tattoos and an inversion of the previous order of thematic entry The final twelve bars adopt a chromatic style not heard earlier in the piece 7 Recordings EditBerliner Philharmonischer Chor Berliner Philharmoniker Carl Schuricht J S Bach Motet Singet dem Herrn Cantata No 50 Cantata No 104 Telefunken 1934 8 Dresden Cathedral Choir amp Orchestra Kurt Bauer Bach Cantatas Nos 31 amp 50 Janus Piroquette 1960s 70s Leeds Festival Choir London Symphony Orchestra Hugh P Allen Now Shall The Grace Eight part chorus from Cantata No 50 HMV 1928 Monteverdi Choir English Baroque Soloists John Eliot Gardiner J S Bach Motets amp Cantatas Erato 1980 Stuttgarter Chor amp Orchester Marcel Couraud J S Bach Cantata No 21 Cantata No 50 Les Discophiles francais 1955 The Sixteen Harry Christophers J S Bach Cantata No 34 50 and 147 Coro 1992 References Edit a b Scheide William H Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft BWV 50 Doppelchorigkeit Datierung und Bestimmung Leipzig 1982 Bach Jahrbuch a b Cantata BWV 50 bach cantatas Retrieved 30 May 2013 Cantata BWV 50 Provenance bach cantatas Retrieved 30 May 2013 Rifkin Joshua Siegesjubel und Satzfehler Zum Problem von Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft BWV 50 Leipzig 2000 Bach Jahrbuch a b c BWV 50 University of Alberta Retrieved 30 May 2013 Mincham Julian Chapter 55 Bwv 50 Bwv 200 Bwv 1045 The Cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach jsbachcantatas Retrieved 20 August 2022 Cantata No 50 Allmusic Retrieved 30 May 2013 External links EditNun ist das Heil und die Kraft BWV 50 Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Cantata Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft BWV 50 performance by the Netherlands Bach Society video and background information Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft BWV 50 amp oldid 1105406143, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
