Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4 (Bach, Johann Sebastian)
Free public domain sheet music from IMSLP / Petrucci Music Library
| Composer Page | Bach, Johann Sebastian | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Movements/Sections | 8 sections
| ||
| Composition Year | 1707–08? (1st version) 1724–25 (2nd version) | ||
| Genre Categories | Sacred cantatas; Cantatas; Religious works; For 4 voices, orchestra; For voices with orchestra; Scores featuring the voice; Scores featuring the soprano voice; Scores featuring the alto voice; Scores featuring the tenor voice; Scores featuring the bass voice; Scores featuring the orchestra; German language; For organ (arr); For 1 player; Scores featuring the organ; For 3 recorders (arr); For 3 players; Scores featuring the recorder |
Performances
Synthesized/MIDI
Verse VI: So feiern wir das hohe Fest
For Recorders (Carpentier)
MIDI Performance
*#151200 - 0.00MB - ? - No ratings - !N/!N/!N - 41x⇩
Vincent Carpentier
Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike 3.0 [tag all files]
These file(s) are part of the Werner Icking Music Collection, and are also included in the Mondrup Recorder Collection.
Upload from external sources: WIMA
Performers submitting their own recordings should consider creating their own performer category.
Scores
Full Scores
Complete Score
*#00723 - 2.68MB, 30 (#95-124) pages - 7.4/10 (5) - V/V/V - 5521x⇩
Moritz Hauptmann (1792–1868)
First edition
Bach-Gesellschaft Ausgabe, Band 1
Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1851. Plate B.W. I.
Large score: US CA JP UK DE FR - Dover vol. (reprint)
Performer's Edition (US users) — Petrucci-Merton (non-US users)
Parts
Complete Parts
*#135458 - 29.63MB, 54 pages - No ratings - V/V/V - 271x⇩
PDF file, Scanned by Bach Digital
Uploader: Ivdruiz (11 October 2011)
Composer's Manuscript, n.d. (1724/1725)
Performer's Edition (US users) — Petrucci-Merton (non-US users)
Upload from external sources: Sibley, WIMA, FTP
Vocal Scores
Complete Score
*#24172 - 2.82MB, 52 pages - 10.0/10 (1) - C/V/C - 2313x⇩
PDF file, Scanned by bh2000
Uploader: Perlnerd666 (9 November 2008)
Gustav Schreck (1849-1918), piano reduction
John Ebenezer West (1863-1929)
German / English
Henry Sandwith Drinker (1880-1965), English text
New York: G. Schirmer, n.d.(ca.1925). Plate 42644
New York: Edwin F. Kalmus, n.d.(after 1933).
Based on the Bach-Gesellschaft Ausgabe
US CA JP UK DE FR - Serenissima (reprint)
Arrangements and Transcriptions
Selections
For Organ solo (Bækgaard)
Verse II: Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt
*#131273 - 0.05MB, 3 pages - No ratings - !N/!N/!N - 197x⇩
Verse II: transposed to D minor
*#131274 - 0.03MB, 3 pages - No ratings - !N/!N/!N - 106x⇩
Verse II: about the transcription:
*#134640 - 0.00MB, 1 pages - No ratings - !N/!N/!N - 53x⇩
Verse III: chorale tune in left hand
*#131275 - 0.04MB, 3 pages - No ratings - !N/!N/!N - 122x⇩
Verse III: chorale tune in left hand, transposed to D minor
*#131276 - 0.04MB, 3 pages - No ratings - !N/!N/!N - 67x⇩
Verse III: chorale tune in pedal
*#131277 - 0.04MB, 3 pages - No ratings - !N/!N/!N - 100x⇩
Verse III: chorale tune in pedal, transposed to D minor
*#131278 - 0.04MB, 3 pages - No ratings - !N/!N/!N - 67x⇩
Verse III: about the transcription
*#134641 - 0.00MB, 1 pages - No ratings - !N/!N/!N - 49x⇩
Engraving files (Finale)
*#176921 - 0.09MB, ? pages - No ratings - !N/!N/!N - 2x⇩
Peter Bækgaard
Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike 3.0 [tag all files]
These file(s) are part of the Werner Icking Music Collection, and are also included in the Peter Bækgaard Collection.
Verse VI: So feiern wir das hohe Fest
For 3 Recorders (Carpentier)
Complete Score (STB recorders)
*#151199 - 0.04MB, 2 pages - No ratings - !N/!N/!N - 86x⇩
Vincent Carpentier
Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike 3.0 [tag all files]
These file(s) are part of the Werner Icking Music Collection, and are also included in the Mondrup Recorder Collection.
Books
Complete Book, with score examples
*#18119 - 3.00MB, 152 pages - 1.0/10 (1) - !N/!N/!N - 859x⇩
PDF file, Scanned by Unknown
Uploader: Antonio Armendáriz (5 July 2008)
Antonio Armendáriz (2nd edition)
German / Spanish / French / English
Lodosa: Antonio Armendáriz Navarro
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 [tag all files]
High resolution. Textos en Alemán, Francés, Español e Inglés. Alta calidad
Upload from external sources: Sibley, WIMA, FTP
Commercial Recordings
Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4, Bach" (MP3 albums (US only), general composer works).
→ Search Amazons worldwide: Canada (.ca), France (.fr), Germany (.de), Japan (.co.jp), United Kingdom (.co.uk), United States (.com)
General Information
| Work Title | Christ lag in Todes[ ]banden |
|---|---|
| Alternative Title | Christ lay in Death's Bonds |
| Composer | Bach, Johann Sebastian |
|---|---|
| Opus/Catalogue Number | BWV 4 ; BC A54 |
| Key | E minor |
| Movements/Sections | 8 sections
|
| Year/Date of Composition | 1707–08? (1st version) 1724–25 (2nd version) |
| First Performance | 1708, Mühlhasen? (1st version) 9 April 1724, Leipzig, (2nd version) |
| First Publication | 1851 (BGA) |
| Librettist | Martin Luther (1483–1546) |
| Language | German |
| Average Duration | 20 minutes |
| Piece Style | Baroque |
| Instrumentation | Soloists: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass; Chorus (SATB) Orchestra: cornetto, 3 trombones (in 2nd version only), 2 violins, 2 violas, continuo |
| External Links | Wikipedia article Bach.de (German) Bach-Cantatas.com Christ lag in Todesbanden - scores at Sheet Music Plus |
| Discuss this piece |
Misc. Comments
Cantata for Easter Sunday
Section Listing
- Sinfonia: strings and continuo
- Verse I: "Christ lag in Todes Banden" - The alto, tenor, and bass voices sing free counterpoint, while the cantus firmus is sung by the soprano in unadorned, long notes.
- Verse II: "Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt" ("Nobody could overcome death") - for soprano, alto and continuo.
- Verse III: "Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn" ("Jesus Christ, Son of God") - for tenor and continuo with 2 violins obbligato.
- Verse IV: "Es war ein wunderlicher Krieg" ("There was a wondrous war") - for soprano, alto, tenor, bass and continuo.
- Verse V: "Hier ist das rechte Osterlamm" ("Here is the true Easter Lamb") - for bass, strings and continuo.
- Verse VI: "So feiern wir das hohe Fest" ("So we celebrate the high feast") - for soprano, tenor and continuo.
- Verse VII: "Wir essen und leben wohl" ("We eat and live well") - A chorale, sung and played by the whole ensemble.
Print Sources Consulted
- Dürr, Alfred. The Cantatas of J.S. Bach. 2 ed. Richard D.P. Jones (Trans).
- Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.
