Bekennen will ich seinen Namen, BWV 200
Bekennen will ich seinen Namen (I shall acknowledge His name), BWV 200, is an arrangement by Johann Sebastian Bach of the aria "Dein Kreuz, o Bräutgam meiner Seelen" contained in Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel's passion-oratorio Die leidende und am Kreuz sterbende Liebe.[1] Bach's arrangement, dated around 1742–1743,[2] was possibly part of a cantata for the feast of Purification of the Virgin Mary.[3]
History and text
The aria is considered to be a cantata-fragment.[4] It was likely written for the Feast of the Purification of Mary. The prescribed readings for the day were Malachi 3:1–4, and Luke 2:22–32.[5]
Bach likely performed his arrangement in 1742 in Leipzig.[5]
Music
The aria is scored for solo alto voice, two violins, and basso continuo.[6] As with many of Bach's latest cantatas, the aria has a "quality of mellow assurance". It is in adapted ternary form but includes no clear reprise of the opening section. The vocal line includes melismas but no other word painting.[7]
Recordings
- Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Kenneth Sillito. J.S. Bach: Cantatas Nos. 53 · 82 · 170 · 200. Capriccio, 1993.
- Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Ton Koopman. J.S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 21. Antoine Marchand, 2002.
- Bach-Orchester Mainz, Diethard Hellmann. J.S. Bach: Psalm 51 BWV 1083 & Cantata BWV 200. Da Camera, 1966.
- English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner. J.S. Bach: Cantatas for the Feast of Purification of Mary. Archiv Produktkion, 2000.
- Netherlands Bach Collegium, Pieter Jan Leusink. Bach Edition Vol. 17. Brilliant Classics, 2000.
- Philomusica of London, Thurston Dart. J.S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 53, BWV 54, BWV 200, BWV 244. L'Oiseau-Lyre, 1958.
- Musica Antiqua Köln, Reinhard Goebel. BWV 200: Aria for contralto, 2 violins and basso continuo Magdalena Kozena Archiv Production 2003
Notes
References
- ↑ Bach Digital Work 0250 at www
.bachdigital .de - ↑ D-B N. Mus. ms. 307 at www
.bachdigital .de - ↑ BWV2a 1998, p. 202
- ↑ Booklet notes to Hänssler CD 98.858.
- 1 2 "Cantata BWV 200 Bekennen will ich seinen Namen". Bach Cantatas. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
- ↑ "BWV 200". University of Alberta. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
- ↑ Mincham, Julian. "Chapter 55 BWV 50, BWV 200, BWV 1045". jsbachcantatas. Retrieved 5 June 2013.