Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/Die Zeit, die Tag und Jahre macht, BWV 134a

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Die Zeit, die Tag und Jahre macht, BWV 134a[edit]

Bachsaal at Schloss Köthen

Die Zeit, die Tag und Jahre macht (Time, which day and year doth make), BWV 134a, is a cantata for New Year's Day by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed the serenata while he was in the service of the court of Leopold, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen (hall in the palace pictured) for a performance on 1 January 1719. The libretto by Christian Friedrich Hunold takes the form of a dialogue between two allegorical figures, Time and Divine Providence, representing the past and future, respectively. Bach set the words in eight movements consisting of alternating recitatives and arias and a choral finale. Most movements are duets of solo voices, an alto as Divine Providence and a tenor as Time. The singers are supported by a Baroque instrumental ensemble of two oboes, two violins, viola and continuo. The character of the music is close to Baroque opera. Later, in Leipzig, Bach used the secular cantata as the basis for a church cantata for the Third Day of Easter 1724, by simply changinging the text and omitting two movements. The secular cantata has been used for congratulatory events, such as the 80th birthday of Bach scholar Alfred Dürr. (Full article...)

  • Most recent similar article(s): last Bach cantata in February 2018
  • Main editors: Gerda Arendt
  • Promoted: November 2018
  • Reasons for nomination: 300th anniversary of premiere
  • Support as nominator. Gerda Arendt (talk) 00:09, 19 November 2018 (UTC)