O angenehme Melodei, BWV 210a
Encyclopedia
O angenehme Melodei BWV 210a, is a secular cantata
by Johann Sebastian Bach
. He wrote the solo cantata for soprano in Leipzig
as a "Huldigungskantate" (homage cantata) for Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels
, first performed on 12 January 1729, and dedicated it at least twice to different people and occasions. The cantata is part of his repertory of congratulatory and homage cantatas. Bach used it as the base for his wedding cantata O holder Tag, erwünschte Zeit, BWV 210
. Most of the music of O angenehme Melodei was lost, but can be reconstructed from the later work, which survived completely.
on the occasion of his visit to Leipzig, performed on 12 January 1729. It was then dedicated to Joachim Friedrich Count Flemming (1665–1740), the governor of Leipzig (words for that occasion given below), finally for the "Gönner von Wissenschaft und Kunst" (Patrons of Science and Art), also called "Sponsorenkantate" (sponsors' cantata). The dates for the two latter occasions are unknown. Only the soprano part and a separate printed textbook of the earliest version were extant of this work. The soprano part was lost in World War II. Bach used the five aria
s, the first recitative
and the beginning of the last recitative later in his wedding cantata BWV 210, therefore the music can be reconstructed. Alexander Ferdinand Grychtolik
edited a reconstruction, published by Edition Güntersberg. He chose the third text version as the most general one.
, transverse flute, oboe d'amore
, two violin
s, viola
, and continuo with violone
and harpsichord
.
Bach cantata
Bach cantata became a term for a cantata of the German Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach who was a prolific writer of the genre. Although many of his works are lost, around 200 cantatas survived....
by Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
. He wrote the solo cantata for soprano in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
as a "Huldigungskantate" (homage cantata) for Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels
Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels
Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels , was a duke of Saxe-Weissenfels-Querfurt and member of the House of Wettin....
, first performed on 12 January 1729, and dedicated it at least twice to different people and occasions. The cantata is part of his repertory of congratulatory and homage cantatas. Bach used it as the base for his wedding cantata O holder Tag, erwünschte Zeit, BWV 210
O holder Tag, erwünschte Zeit, BWV 210
O holder Tag, erwünschte Zeit , BWV 210, is a secular cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He wrote the solo cantata for soprano in Leipzig for a wedding, first performed between 1738 and 1746...
. Most of the music of O angenehme Melodei was lost, but can be reconstructed from the later work, which survived completely.
History and words
Bach used this cantata in three slightly different versions, paying homage to Christian, Duke of Saxe-WeissenfelsChristian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels
Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels , was a duke of Saxe-Weissenfels-Querfurt and member of the House of Wettin....
on the occasion of his visit to Leipzig, performed on 12 January 1729. It was then dedicated to Joachim Friedrich Count Flemming (1665–1740), the governor of Leipzig (words for that occasion given below), finally for the "Gönner von Wissenschaft und Kunst" (Patrons of Science and Art), also called "Sponsorenkantate" (sponsors' cantata). The dates for the two latter occasions are unknown. Only the soprano part and a separate printed textbook of the earliest version were extant of this work. The soprano part was lost in World War II. Bach used the five aria
Aria
An aria in music was originally any expressive melody, usually, but not always, performed by a singer. The term is now used almost exclusively to describe a self-contained piece for one voice usually with orchestral accompaniment...
s, the first recitative
Recitative
Recitative , also known by its Italian name "recitativo" , is a style of delivery in which a singer is allowed to adopt the rhythms of ordinary speech...
and the beginning of the last recitative later in his wedding cantata BWV 210, therefore the music can be reconstructed. Alexander Ferdinand Grychtolik
Alexander Ferdinand Grychtolik
Alexander Ferdinand Grychtolik is a German harpsichordist, improviser, musicologist and academic.-Professional career:...
edited a reconstruction, published by Edition Güntersberg. He chose the third text version as the most general one.
Scoring and structure
The cantata is scored as BWV 120 for sopranoSoprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
, transverse flute, oboe d'amore
Oboe d'amore
The oboe d'amore , less commonly oboe d'amour, is a double reed woodwind musical instrument in the oboe family. Slightly larger than the oboe, it has a less assertive and more tranquil and serene tone, and is considered the mezzo-soprano of the oboe family, between the oboe itself and the cor...
, two violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
s, viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
, and continuo with violone
Violone
The term violone can refer to several distinct large, bowed musical instruments which belong to either the viol or violin family. The violone is sometimes a fretted instrument, and may have six, five, four, or even only three strings. The violone is also not always a contrabass instrument...
and harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
.
- Recitativo: O angenehme Melodei
- Aria (oboe d'amore, strings): Spielet, ihr beseelten Lieder
- Recitativo: Ihr Sorgen, flieht
- Aria (oboe d'amore, violin): Ruhet hie, matte Töne
- Recitativo: Wiewohl, beliebte Musica
- Aria (flute): Schweigt, ihr Flöten, schweigt, ihr Töne
- Recitativo: Doch fasse dich, dein Glanz
- Aria (oboe d'amore, 2 violins): Großer Flemming, alles Wissen
- Recitativo (flute, oboe d'amore, strings): Erleuchtet Haupt, so bleibe fernerweit
- Aria: Sei vergnügt, großer Flemming
External links
- Cantata BWV 210a O angenehme Melodei on bach-cantatas.com
- German text and English translation, Emmanuel MusicEmmanuel MusicEmmanuel Music is a Boston-based collective group of singers and instrumentalists founded in 1970 by Craig Smith. It was created specifically to perform the complete cycle of over 200 sacred cantatas of J.S. Bach in the liturgical setting for which they were intended, an endeavor twice completed...
- O angenehme Melodei, BWV 210a on the Bach website (in German)
- BWV 210a O angenehme Melodei on uvm.edu
- Entries for BWV 210a on WorldCatWorldCatWorldCat is a union catalog which itemizes the collections of 72,000 libraries in 170 countries and territories which participate in the Online Computer Library Center global cooperative...