Bekennen will ich seinen Namen, BWV 200

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Bekennen will ich seinen Namen (I shall acknowledge His name), BWV 200, is an arrangement by Johann Sebastian Bach of an aria from Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel's passion-oratorio Die leidende und am Creuz sterbende Liebe Jesu. He scored it for alto, two violins and continuo, possibly as part of a cantata for the feast of Purification. He probably led the first performance around 1742.

History and text[edit]

Bach arranged in Bekennen will ich seinen Namen an aria, "Dein Kreuz, o Bräutgam meiner Seelen" (Your cross, o bridegroom of my soul" from Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel's passion-oratorio Die leidende und am Creuz sterbende Liebe Jesu.[1][2] Bach's arrangement, dated around 1742–43,[3] was possibly part of a cantata for the Marian feast of Purification.[4][5] The prescribed readings for the day were Malachi 3:1–4, and Luke 2:22–32.[6]

Bach likely performed his arrangement in 1742 in Leipzig.[6]

Music[edit]

The aria is scored for solo alto voice, two violins, and basso continuo.[7] As with many of Bach's latest cantatas, the aria has a "quality of mellow assurance". It is in adapted ternary form but includes no clear reprise of the opening section. The vocal line includes melismas but no other word painting.[8]

Recordings[edit]

  • Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Kenneth Sillito. J.S. Bach: Cantatas Nos. 53 · 82 · 170 · 200. Capriccio, 1993.
  • Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman. J.S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 21. Antoine Marchand, 2002.
  • Bach-Orchester Mainz, Diethard Hellmann. J.S. Bach: Psalm 51 BWV 1083 & Cantata BWV 200. Da Camera, 1966.
  • English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner. J.S. Bach: Cantatas for the Feast of Purification of Mary. Archiv Produktkion, 2000.
  • Netherlands Bach Collegium, Pieter Jan Leusink. Bach Edition Vol. 17. Brilliant Classics, 2000.
  • Philomusica of London, Thurston Dart. J.S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 53, BWV 54, BWV 200, BWV 244. L'Oiseau-Lyre, 1958.
  • Musica Antiqua Köln, Reinhard Goebel. BWV 200: Aria for contralto, 2 violins and basso continuo Magdalena Kozena Archiv Production 2003

References[edit]

  1. ^ Bach Digital Work 00250 at www.bachdigital.de
  2. ^ Wollny 2008.
  3. ^ D-B N. Mus. ms. 307 at www.bachdigital.de
  4. ^ BWV2a 1998, p. 202
  5. ^ Booklet notes to Hänssler CD 98.858.
  6. ^ a b "Cantata BWV 200 Bekennen will ich seinen Namen". Bach Cantatas. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  7. ^ "BWV 200". University of Alberta. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  8. ^ Mincham, Julian. "Chapter 55 BWV 50, BWV 200, BWV 1045". jsbachcantatas. Retrieved 9 September 2022.

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]