Gott, man lobet dich in der Stille, BWV 120

History#

Bach composed the cantata in Leipzig for the inauguration of the newly elected town council, which took place in a festive service at the Nikolaikirche on the Monday following St. Bartholomew’s Day (24 August). A first performance in 1728 or 1729 is regarded as likely. The cantata was performed again around 1742; the autograph score of that revision is preserved, with the heading “J. J. Concerto à 4 Voci. due Hautb. due Violini, Viola, 3 Trombe, Tamburi è Continuo”. Parts of the cantata appear in the wedding cantata , BWV 120.2, and the cantata , BWV 120.3, for the 200th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession in 1730. The latter work’s music is lost, only parts of the former cantata are extant. Bach reworked the first part of the second movement for the Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum in the Symbolum Nicenum (Credo) of his Mass in B minor.

Scoring, text and structure#

The instrumentation reflects the festive occasion for which it was written: four soloists, soprano, alto, tenor and basso, a four-part choir, three trumpets, timpani, two oboes d’amore, two violins, viola, and basso continuo. The cantata is in six movements: # Alto solo: # Chorus: # Recitative (bass): # Aria (soprano): # Recitative (tenor): # Chorale: The first movement is based on Psalm 65:2. It is unusual for Bach to open a festive cantata with a solo voice, but the words "" (out of silence) may have prompted him to write it for alto and two oboe d’amore. The first part of the jubilant second movement, a chorus dominated by the full orchestra, was adapted for the Mass in B minor. The soprano aria with solo violin is probably based on an earlier work from Bach’s time in Köthen that served as a model also for a movement of a violin sonata BWV 1019a. The tenor recitative is accompanied by strings to underline its character as a prayer for justice and future blessings. The words for the final chorale are taken from the German , “”, by Martin Luther.

Recordings#

• Cantatas, BWV 119–120, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Tölzer Knabenchor, Concentus Musicus Wien, Markus Huber (boy soprano), Paul Esswood, Kurt Equiluz, Robert Holl, Philippe Huttenlocher, Teldec 1971
• Die Bach Kantate Vol. 67, Helmuth Rilling, Gächinger Kantorei, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Helen Donath, Hildegard Laurich, Adalbert Kraus, Wolfgang Schöne, Hänssler 1973
• J.S. Bach Cantatas BWV 29 “Wir danken dir, Gott”; BWV 119 “Preise, Jerusalem, den Herrn”; BWV 120 “Gott, man lobet dich in der Stille”, Philippe Herreweghe, Collegium Vocale Gent, Deborah York, Ingeborg Danz, Mark Padmore, Peter Kooy, Harmonia Mundi 1999
• J.S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 20 Ton Koopman, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir, Sandrine Piau, Bogna Bartosz, Antoine Marchand 2003

Sources#

• Gott, man lobet dich in der Stille BWV 120; BC B 6 / Cantata (Council election) Leipzig University
• Cantata BWV 120 Gott, man lobet dich in der Stille: history, scoring, sources for text and music, translations to various languages, discography, discussion, bach-cantatas website
• BWV 120 Gott, man lobet dich in der Stille: English translation, University of Vermont
• BWV 120 Gott, man lobet dich in der Stille: text, scoring, University of Alberta
• Chapter 86 BWV 120 Gott, man lobet dich in der Stille / God, Praise awaits You in the stillness. Julian Mincham, 2010

External links#

• Gott, man lobet dich in der Stille, BWV 120: performance by the Netherlands Bach Society (video and background information)