Magnificat (Bach)
The Magnificat is a setting of the Magnificat by Johann Sebastian Bach for five soloists, a five-Part choir and orchestra. He first composed a version in E-flat major, BWV 243a, in 1723 Christmas, then in 1733 a version in D major, BWV 243, for the the feast of the Visitation. The Latin text is the canticle of Mary, mother of Jesus, as told in the Gospel of Luke.
[edit] History
Bach composed in 1723 in his first year as Thomaskantor in Leipzig an initial version in E-flat major in 1723 for Christmas Vespers in Leipzig, with added text related to Christmas to the Latin text. In 1733, Bach composed a version without the interpolated texts, transposed to D major, for the Marian feast of the Visitation, which was celebrated on 2 July in Leipzig at Bach's time. The new version, which is the one usually performed, had its premiere at the Thomaskirche on July 2, 1733, which coincided with the fourth Sunday after Trinity Sunday that year.
[edit] Scoring and structure
The work is divided into twelve movements which can be grouped into three sections, each beginning with an aria and completed by the choir in a fugal chorus. Its performance lasts approximately thirty minutes. The indented parts below indicate the removed Christmas texts.
It is scored for five soloists, soprano I/II, alto, tenor, bass, a five-part choir, three trumpets, timpani, flauto traverso, two oboes (also oboe d'amore), two violins, viola, and basso continuo. It is one of few works which Bach set for a five-part choir, along with the Kyrie and Gloria, also of 1733, which he later expanded to form the Mass in B minor, and the motet Jesu, meine Freude.
- Coro — "Magnificat“
- Aria (soprano II) — "Et exsultavit spiritus meus“
- A. Chorale motet — "Vom Himmel hoch“
- Aria (soprano I) — "Quia respexit humilitatem“
- Coro — "Omnes generationes“
- Aria (bass) — "Quia fecit mihi magna“
- B. Coro — "Freut euch und jubiliert“
- Aria (alto, tenor) — "Et misericordia“
- Coro — "Fecit potentiam“
- C. Coro — "Gloria in excelsis Deo“
- Aria (tenor) — "Deposuit potentes“
- Aria (alto) — "Esurientes implevit bonis“
- D. Aria (soprano, bass) — "Virga Jesse floruit“
- Aria (soprano I/II, alto) — "Suscepit Israel“
- Coro — "Sicut locutus est“
- Coro — "Gloria Patri“
[edit] External links
- Magnificat: Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project.
- Magnificat in D major BWV 243 / Magnificat in E flat major BWV 243a bach-cantatas.com
- Magnificat – Omnes generationes – number symbolism (YouTube Video)
- Magnificat (MIDI), with practice files (MP3) for choristers
