Johann Sebastian Bach

Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen, BWV 248 V

(Let honour be sung to You, O God), BWV 248 V (also written as BWV 248 V), is a church cantata for the second Sunday after Christmas, which Johann Sebastian Bach composed as the fifth part of his

History#

Bach had been presenting church cantatas for the Christmas season in the Thomaskirche (St. Thomas) and Nikolaikirche (St. Nicholas) since his appointment as director musices in Leipzig in 1723, including these cantatas for the Sunday after New Year’s Day: * As part of his first cantata cycle: Schau, lieber Gott, wie meine Feind, BWV 153, first performed on . * As part of his third cantata cycle: Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid, BWV 58 (early version), first performed on , and in its later version, first performed on or , added to the chorale cantata cycle.

Christmas season 1734–35#

Bach composed his Christmas Oratorio for the Christmas season from Christmas Day on 25 December 1734 to Epiphany on 6 January 1735. , , for the Sunday after New Year’s Day, is the fifth of six cantatas (or parts) constituting this oratorio.

Text#

The readings for the Sunday were as the epistle , the suffering of Christians, and as the Gospel , the Flight into Egypt. The text of Part V, deviating from these readings, deals with the voyage of the Magi, following the Gospel of Matthew, 1–6, with interspersed reflecting recitatives, arias and chorales. The identity of the librettist of the Christmas Oratorio cantatas is unknown, with Picander, who had collaborated with Bach earlier, a likely candidate. The oratorio’s libretto was published in 1734. The quotations from the Bible are rendered in Martin Luther’s translation.

Music and content#

is scored for 2 oboes d’amore, 2 violin parts, 1 viola part and continuo. !No.!! !!Key!!Time!!Incipit!!Scoring!!Model - 43 Chorus A maj/ Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen Oboe d’amore I, II, strings, continuo - 44 colspan=3 Recitative (Evangelist, tenor) Da Jesus geboren war zu Bethlehem Continuo - 45 Chorus Recitative (alto) Chorus D major Oboe d’amore I, II, strings, continuo ; BWV 247/43: “Pfui dich, wie fein zerbrichst du den Tempel” (conjectured). - 46 Chorale A major Dein Glanz all’ Finsternis verzehrt Oboe d’amore I, II, strings, continuo Nun liebe Seel, nun ist es Zeit (Weissel 1642), v. 5; Zahn 2461c (1581) - 47 Aria (bass) F minor Erleucht’ auch meine finstre Sinnen Oboe d’amore I solo, organ senza continuo BWV 215/7: “Durch die von Eifer entflammeten Waffen” - 48 colspan=3 Recitative (Evangelist, tenor) Da das der König Herodes hörte Continuo - 49 colspan=3 Recitative (alto) Warum wollt ihr erschrecken Strings, continuo - 50 colspan=3 Recitative (Evangelist, tenor) Und ließ versammeln alle Hohenpriester Continuo - 51 Trio (sopr., alto, ten.) B minor Ach! wann wird die Zeit erscheinen? Violin I solo, continuo unknown - 52 colspan=3 Recitative (alto) Mein Liebster herrschet schon Continuo - 53 Chorale A major Zwar ist solche Herzensstube Oboe d’amore I, II, strings, continuo Ihr Gestirn, ihr hohlen Lüfte (Franck 1655), v. 9; Zahn 3614b (1687)

Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach