Christ lag in Todes Banden, BWV 4
Christ lag in Todes Banden ("Christ lay in death's bonds"),[1] BWV 4, is a cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. It is one of Bach's earliest cantatas. It was written for Easter Sunday.[2]:263 The cantata is based on the hymn "Christ lag in Todesbanden" by Martin Luther.
History
The cantata may have been written in 1707. At the time, Bach was working in Mühlhausen.[3] Bach performed the cantata again in Leipzig.[4] He changed parts of the cantata. However, the changes were not big.[2]:264
Music
The cantata is written for SATB choir, a cornetto, three trombones, two violins, a viola, and basso continuo. The cornetto and trombones play in unison with the choir. The cantata has eight movements:[2]:262
- Sinfonia
- Versus 1: Christ lag in Todes Banden
- Versus 2: Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt
- Versus 3: Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn
- Versus 4: Es war ein wunderlicher Krieg
- Versus 5: Hier ist das rechte Osterlamm
- Versus 6: So feiern wir das hohe Fest
- Versus 7: Wir essen und leben wohl
Every movement has the melody of the hymn tune. Unlike many of Bach's other cantatas, BWV 4 does not have any recitatives.[5]
Christ Lag In Todes Banden, BWV 4 Media
The restored Wender organ which Bach played in Arnstadt at the New Church (now the Bach Church)
Portrait of the young Bach (disputed)
Portrait of Martin Luther, c. 1529. Luther wrote the text of the hymn and derived the melody from a traditional older tune.
Organ of Divi Blasii in Mühlhausen, where the cantata was possibly first performed
John Eliot Gardiner, who conducted the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage, in 2007
Resurrection of Jesus on the title page of a Luther Bible, 1769
References
- ↑ Dellal, Pamela. "BWV 4 - Christ lag in Todes Banden". www.emmanuelmusic.org. Emmanuel Music. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Dürr, Alfred (2006). The cantatas of J.S. Bach : with their librettos in German-English parallel text. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-929776-4.
- ↑ "Bach digital - Christ lag in Todesbanden [Frühfassung] BWV 4.1". www.bach-digital.de. Bach Digital. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
- ↑ Smith, Craig. "BWV 4". www.emmanuelmusic.org. Emmanuel Music.
- ↑ Mincham, Julian. "Chapter 42 BWV 4 & BWV 42, each commencing with a sinfonia". The Cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
Other websites
- Christ lag in Todes Banden, BWV 4: Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project