Wer Dank opfert, der preiset mich, BWV 17
Wer Dank opfert, der preiset mich (He who gives thanks praises me), BWV 17, is a church cantata of Johann Sebastian Bach, written in Leipzig in 1726 for the 14th Sunday after Trinity, the 22 September 1726.
History and words
Bach wrote the cantata for the 14th Sunday after Trinity in 1726, his fourth year in Leipzig. The prescribed readings for the Sunday were from the Epistle to the Galatians, Galatians 5:16–24, Paul's teaching on "works of the flesh" and "fruit of the Spirit", and from the Gospel of Luke, Luke 17:11–19, Cleansing ten lepers. The words for the opening chorus are taken from Psalm 50:23. The first recitative is Luke 17:15—16 from the Gospel. The author of movements 3 to 6 is formally unknown, Walther Blankenburg has suggested to attribute the lyrics to Christoph Helm. The words of the chorale are of Johann Graumann (Poliander), the melody is Nun lob’, mein’ Seel’, den Herren, published in Hans Kugelmann’s Concentus novi trium vocum accomodati (new songs for three voices), in Augsburg, 1540.[1]
Scoring and structure
The cantata for soprano, alto, tenor and bass soloists, a four-part choir, two oboes, two violins, viola, and basso continuo. It is in seven movements, divided in two parts to be performed before and after the sermon. Both parts are opened by Bible words. The opening chorus presents the verse from the psalm in two choral sections, preceded by an instrumental sinfonia. The recitative beginning part two is of narrative character and therefore given to the tenor voice, similar to the Evangelist in Bach's oratorios and Passions.[1]
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- Part one
- 1. Coro: Wer Dank opfert, der preiset mich
- 2. Recitativo (alto): Es muss die ganze Welt ein stummer Zeuge werden
- 3. Aria (soprano, violins): Herr, deine Güte reicht, so weit der Himmel ist
- Part two
- 4. Recitativo (tenor): Einer aber unter ihnen
- 5. Aria (tenor, strings): Welch Übermaß der Güte
- 6. Recitativo (bass): Sieh meinen Willen an, ich kenne, was ich bin
- 7. Chorale: Wie sich ein Vat'r erbarmet
Recordings
- Bach: Sacred Cantatas, Vol. 1, BWV 1-14, 16-19, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Vienna Boys' Choir, Viennensis Chorus, soprano boy soloist, Paul Esswood, Kurt Equiluz, Max van Egmond, Teldec 1972
- Bach Cantatas Vol. 4 - Sundays after Trinity I, Karl Richter, Münchener Bach-Chor, Münchener Bach-Orchester, Edith Mathis, Julia Hamari, Peter Schreier, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Archiv Produktion 1977
- Die Bach Kantate Vol. 17, Helmuth Rilling, Gächinger Kantorei, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Arleen Augér, Gabriele Schreckenbach, Adalbert Kraus, Walter Heldwein, Hänssler 1982
- Bach Cantatas Vol. 7: Ambronay / Bremen, John Eliot Gardiner, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, Malin Hartelius, Robin Tyson, James Gilchrist, Peter Harvey, Soli Deo Gloria 2000
- J.S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 17, Ton Koopman, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir, Sandrine Piau, Bogna Bartosz, Christoph Prégardien, Klaus Mertens, Antoine Marchand
- J.S. Bach: Cantatas for the Complete Liturgical Year Vol. 5, Sigiswald Kuijken, La Petite Bande, Gerlinde Sämann, Petra Noskaiová, Jan Kobow, Dominik Wörner, Accent 2006
References
External links