Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott, BWV 80

Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott (A mighty fortress is our God), BWV 80, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed the chorale cantata in Leipzig for Reformation Day, 31 October, first performed between 1727 and 1731. It is based on Martin Luther's chorale Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott.

History and words

Bach wrote the cantata in Leipzig for Reformation Day. The text of this cantata is by Salomo Franck (1659–1725) and is based on the text of Luther's chorale.

Scoring and structure

The cantata is scored for four soloists, soprano, alto, tenor, and bass, a four part choir, two oboes, two oboe d'amore, oboe da caccia, two violins, viola, violoncello and basso continuo.

1. Coro: Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott: choral chorale fugue; voices ornament and paraphrase tune (text: first verse of the chorale), while it appears as cantus firmus in oboes (also in trumpets added later by Wilhelm Friedemann Bach)
2. Aria (bass): Alles, was von Gott geboren – Mit unsrer Macht ist nichts getan, with new melody and text, entwined with chorale melody and second verse in soprano
3. Recitativo (bass): Erwäge doch, Kind Gottes, recitative followed by arioso (continuo only)
4. Aria (soprano): Komm in mein Herzens Haus, aria with continuo
5. Chorale: Und wenn die Welt voll Teufel wär: choir in unison sing third verse of chorale to full ensemble's elaborate accompaniment
6. Recitativo (tenor): So stehe denn bei Christi blutgefärbten Fahne, recitative followed by arioso (continuo only)
7. Duetto (alto, tenor): Wie selig sind doch die, die Gott im Munde tragen, with continuo and obbligato violin, oboe a caccia (in F)
8. Chorale: Das Wort sie sollen lassen stahn: Choir in four-part setting sing last two verses of chorale.

Recordings

• Les Grandes Cantates de J.S. Bach Vol. 5, Fritz Werner, Heinrich-Schütz-Chor Heilbronn, Pforzheim Chamber Orchestra, Ingeborg Reichelt, Hertha Töpper, Helmut Krebs, Franz Kelch, Erato 1959 (reissued)
• J.S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 22, Ton Koopman, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir, Sandrine Piau, Nathalie Stutzmann, James Gilchrist, Klaus Mertens, Antoine Marchand

External links

• [1] on the bach cantatas website
• German text and English translation, Emmanuel Music
• [2] on the Bach website (German)
• BWV 80 Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott University of Vermont

Sources

The first source is the score.

• Cantatas, BWV 71-80: Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project.

General sources are found for the Bach cantatas. Several databases provide additional information on each single cantata:

• Cantata BWV 80 Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott history, scoring, sources for text and music, translations to various languages, discography, discussion, bach-cantatas website
• BWV 80 - "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott" English translation, discussion, Emmanuel Music
• Eine feste Burg ist unser Gott history, scoring, Bach website (German)
• BWV 80 Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott English translation, University of Vermont
• BWV 80 Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott text, scoring, University of Alberta
• BWV 80 Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott analysis, Bach Choir of Bethlehem