Cantata BWV 76, Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes - Johann Sebastian Bach 'Karl Richter'

Composition Year: 1723 in Leipzig
First Performance: 1723-06-06 in Leipzig
Dedication: 2nd Sunday after Trinity
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Performers:
Edith Mathis - Soprano • Anna Reynolds - Alto • Peter Schreier - Tenor • Bass
Kurt Moll, Manfred Clement (Oboe d'amore, Oboe I); Robert Eliscú (Oboe II); Pierre Thibaud (Trumpet); Ingo Sinnhoffer (Violin); Johannes Fink (Viola da gamba) Continuo: Fritz Kiskalt, Johannes Fink (Violoncellos); Herbert Duft (Double-bass); Karl Kolbinger (Bassoon); Hedwig Bilgram, Elmar Schloter (Organ); Hedwig Bilgram (Harpsichord)
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Münchener Bach-Chor • Münchener Bach-Orchester • Karl Richter - Conductor
Recorded: München, Herkulessal, 5/1974; 1/1975
Recording quality: High
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Part I.
00:01 1. Chorus: Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes (C major)
04:31 2. Recitativo (tenor): So läßt sich Gott nicht unbezueget! (A minor-E minor)
06:17 3. Aria (soprano): Hört, ihr Völker, Gottes Stimme (G major)
12:52 4. Recitativo (bass): Wer aber hört (E minor-C major)
13:47 5. Aria (bass): Fahr hin, abgöttische Zunft! (C major)
17:02 6. Recitativo (alto): Du hast uns, Herr, von allen Straßen (E minor)
19:09 7. Choral: Es woll uns Gott genädig sein (E minor)

Part II.
21:43 8. Sinfonia (E minor)
24:37 9. Recitativo (bass): Gott segne noch die treue Schar (B minor-A minor)
25:48 10. Aria (tenor): Hasse nur, hasse mich recht (A minor)
28:51 11. Recitativo (alto): Ich fühle schon im Geist (F minor-C major)
29:55 12. Aria (alto): Liebt, ihr Christen, in der Tat! (E minor)
34:13 13. Recitativo (tenor): So soll die Christenheit (C major-E minor)
34:56 14. Choral: Es danke, Gott, und lobe dich (E minor)
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Work:
Johann Sebastian Bach composed the church cantata Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes (English: The heavens are telling the glory of God), BWV 76 in Leipzig for the second Sunday after Trinity of the liturgical year and first performed it on 6 June 1723.
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Bach composed the cantata at a decisive turning point in his career. Moving from posts in the service of churches and courts to the town of Leipzig on the first Sunday after Trinity, 30 May 1723, he began the project of composing a new cantata for every occasion of the liturgical year. He began his first annual cycle of cantatas ambitiously with Die Elenden sollen essen, BWV 75, in an unusual layout of 14 movements in two symmetrical parts, to be performed before and after the sermon. Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes, performed a week later, has the same structure.
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The unknown poet begins his text with a quotation from Psalm 19 and refers to both prescribed readings from the New Testament, the parable of the great banquet as the Gospel, and the First Epistle of John. Bach scored Part I with a trumpet as a symbol of God's Glory. In Part II, performed after the sermon and during communion, he wrote chamber music with oboe d'amore and viola da gamba, dealing with "brotherly devotion". Both parts are closed with a stanza of Martin Luther's hymn "Es woll uns Gott genädig sein" (1524).
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https://www.bach-cantatas.com
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ATTRIBUTION
Music contained in this video is licensed by Archiv Produktion