Johann Sebastian Bach
A mighty fortress is our God BWV 80b, BWV3 80.2
Cantata for the Reformation Festival. Reconstruction of the first Leipzig version by Klaus Hofmann
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Johann Sebastian Bach
A mighty fortress is our God BWV 80b, BWV3 80.2
Cantata for the Reformation Festival. Reconstruction of the first Leipzig version by Klaus Hofmann
- Instrumentation Soloists (SATB), Mixed Choir (SATB), Oboe, 2 Violins, Viola and Continuo
- Composer Johann Sebastian Bach
- Editor Jutta Wicker
- Editor Klaus Hofmann
- Lyricist Martin Luther Salomon Franck
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Difficulty Level
- Edition Piano reduction Download (Urtext)
- Publisher Carus-Verlag
- Order no. CV31080-53-DL
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Description:
The first version of the Reformation cantata "Eine feste Burg ist unser Gott" BWV 80b, published for the first time in a practical edition by Carus-Verlag, remained unknown to Bach scholars until well into the 20th century. Three fragments of the first leaf of Bach's score, dating from 1728-1731, bear witness to its former existence. In contrast, the extended new version of the cantata with its powerful opening chorus (BWV 80), which has been known for a long time, dates from the 1730s or 1740s. It has only survived in a copy of Bach's score, but this in turn allows conclusions to be drawn about the history of the version and, together with the score fragments mentioned above, makes it possible to reconstruct the first version. The result is a less expansive work in the more concise "normal format" of a Bach cantata and with limited wind instrumentation. The framework is formed by a polyphonically loosened four-part chorale movement with the first and last verses of Luther's hymn; the other movements are the same as in the later new version. This simpler cantata can also be used to celebrate the Reformation in a worthy manner, as Bach did around 1730. / This is a reconstruction of the earlier version of the Reformation cantata (BWV3 80.2) without the large chorale at the beginning. The better-known, later Reformation cantata has been published under the number Carus 31.080/00, the first version of the cantata (BWV3 80.1, for Sunday Oculi 1716) under Carus 31.401/00.