Johann Sebastian Bach
The merry chase, the hunt is my delight BWV 208, BWV3 208.1
Hunting cantata
Johann Sebastian Bach
The merry chase, the hunt is my delight BWV 208, BWV3 208.1
Hunting cantata
- Instrumentation Soloists (SSTB), Mixed Choir (SSTB) and Orchestra
- Optional Instrumentation Soloists (SSTB), Mixed Choir (SATB) and Orchestra
- Composer Johann Sebastian Bach
- Editor Ulrich Leisinger
- Lyricist Salomon Franck
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Difficulty Level
- Edition Piano reduction Download (Urtext)
- Publisher Carus-Verlag
- Order no. CV31208-03-DL
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Description:
Johann Sebastian Bach's librettist Salomon Franck called the congratulatory music for the court of Saxe-Weissenfels, which is generally known today as the "Hunting Cantata" BWV 208, "Frohlockender Götterstreit". The work was probably premiered in the presence of the composer on February 23, 1713, Duke Christian's 31st birthday. At that time, the choir probably only consisted of the four soloists, but it can of course be scored for a larger group. Bach later performed the colorful and varied work, which consists of 15 short movements, several times.
As the cantata begins with a recitative, it makes sense to precede it with an instrumental movement. The opening movement of the "1st Brandenburg Concerto" BWV 1046 with its hunting horn sounds, which Bach later used in other works such as the church cantata BWV 52, is suitable for this. This movement from BWV 1046a (oldest version) is included in the edition as a suggested performance.
As the cantata begins with a recitative, it makes sense to precede it with an instrumental movement. The opening movement of the "1st Brandenburg Concerto" BWV 1046 with its hunting horn sounds, which Bach later used in other works such as the church cantata BWV 52, is suitable for this. This movement from BWV 1046a (oldest version) is included in the edition as a suggested performance.