Christum wir sollen loben schon, BWV 121 (Bach, Johann Sebastian)

Movements/SectionsMov'ts/Sec's 6 movements
Composition Year 1724 in Leipzig
Genre Categories Sacred cantatas; Cantatas; Religious works; For 4 voices, mixed chorus, orchestra; For voices and chorus 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 mixed chorus; Scores featuring the orchestra; German language; For 2 violins, 2 violas, cello (arr); For 5 players; Scores featuring the violin; Scores featuring the viola; Scores featuring the cello; For 2 violins, viola, 2 cellos (arr); For 2 violins, 3 cellos (arr); For violin, 3 violas, cello (arr); For violin, 2 violas, 2 cellos (arr); For violin, viola, 3 cellos (arr); For oboe, violin, 2 violas, cello (arr); Scores featuring the oboe; For oboe, violin, viola, 2 cellos (arr); For oboe, violin, 3 cellos (arr); For oboe, 3 violas, cello (arr); For oboe, 2 violas, 2 cellos (arr); For oboe, viola, 3 cellos (arr); For oboe damore, violin, 2 violas, cello (arr); Scores featuring the oboe damore; For oboe damore, violin, viola, 2 cellos (arr); For oboe damore, violin, 3 cellos (arr); For oboe damore, 3 violas, cello (arr); For oboe damore, 2 violas, 2 cellos (arr); For oboe damore, viola, 3 cellos (arr); For 4 violas, cello (arr); For 3 violas, 2 cellos (arr); For 2 violas, 2 cellos (arr); For 4 players; For 4 cellos (arr); For viola, 3 cellos (arr); For 2 violins, viola (arr); For 3 players; For 2 violins, cello (arr); For violin, 2 violas (arr); For violin, viola, cello (arr); For violin, 2 cellos (arr); For oboe, violin, viola (arr); For oboe, violin, cello (arr); For oboe, 2 violas (arr); For oboe, viola, cello (arr); For oboe, 2 cellos (arr); For oboe damore, violin, viola (arr); For oboe damore, violin, cello (arr); For oboe damore, 2 violas (arr); For oboe damore, viola, cello (arr); For oboe damore, 2 cellos (arr); For 3 violas (arr); For 2 violas, cello (arr); For viola, 2 cellos (arr); For trumpet, organ (arr); Scores featuring the trumpet; Scores featuring the organ; For 2 players

Contents

Performances

Naxos

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Synthesized/MIDI

Aria: 'O du von Gott erhöhte Kreatur' (No.2)

For Trumpet and Organ (Rondeau)

 Virtual Performance
#412036 - 3.06MB - 3:21 -  0.0/10 2 4 6 8 10 (-) - !N/!N/!N - 55×⇩ - MP3 - Michrond

MP3 file (audio)
Michrond (2016/2/19)

Performers MIDI
Publisher Info. Michel Rondeau
Copyright
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 [tag/del]
Misc. Notes These file(s) are part of the Werner Icking Music Collection.
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Sheet Music

Full Scores

 Complete Score
#01375 - 1.76MB, 20 pp. -  0.0/10 2 4 6 8 10 (-) - V/V/V - 3594×⇩ - Feldmahler

PDF scanned by Unknown
Feldmahler (2006/8/29)

Editor Alfred Dörffel (1821–1905)
Publisher. Info. Bach-Gesellschaft Ausgabe, Band 26
Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel, 1878. Plate B.W. XXVI.
Copyright
Public Domain [tag/del]
Purchase
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Vocal Scores

 Complete Score
#24353 - 1.79MB, 32 pp. -  0.0/10 2 4 6 8 10 (-) - C/V/C - 1261×⇩ - Perlnerd666

PDF scanned by bh2000
Perlnerd666 (2008/11/13)

Arranger Bernhard Todt (1822–1907) [?]
Publisher. Info. Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel, n.d.(ca.1890).
Copyright
Public Domain [tag/del]
Misc. Notes Vocal Score based on Bach-Gesellschaft Ausgabe
Purchase
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Arrangements and Transcriptions

Chorus: 'Christum wir sollen loben schon' (No.1)

For Quintets: Oboe or Oboe d'Amore ad lib. and Strings (Lang)

 Complete Score and Parts
#495761 - 0.31MB, 26 pp. -  0.0/10 2 4 6 8 10 (-) - !N/!N/!N - 29×⇩ - FP23

PDF typeset by arranger
FP23 (2017/10/7)

Arranger Peter Lang
Publisher. Info. Peter Lang, 2015.
Copyright
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 [tag/del]
Misc. Notes Various quintet configurations
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For String Quartets (Lang / Bartoli)

 Complete Score and Parts
#495762 - 0.22MB, 17 pp. -  0.0/10 2 4 6 8 10 (-) - !N/!N/!N - 36×⇩ - FP23

PDF typeset by arranger
FP23 (2017/10/7)

Arranger Peter Lang
Russ Bartoli (b. 1951)
Editor Peter Lang
Publisher. Info. Peter Lang, 2016.
Copyright
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 [tag/del]
Misc. Notes Various quartet configurations involving no violins
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Aria: 'O du von Gott erhöhte Kreatur' (No.2)

For Trios: Oboe or Oboe d'Amore ad lib. and Strings (Lang)

 Complete Score and Parts
#495764 - 0.37MB, 17 pp. -  0.0/10 2 4 6 8 10 (-) - !N/!N/!N - 28×⇩ - FP23

PDF typeset by arranger
FP23 (2017/10/7)

Arranger Peter Lang
Publisher. Info. Peter Lang, 2015.
Copyright
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 [tag/del]
Misc. Notes Various trio configurations
Purchase
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For Trumpet and Organ (Rondeau)

 Complete Score and Trumpet Part
#412033 - 0.22MB, 14 pp. -  0.0/10 2 4 6 8 10 (-) - !N/!N/!N - 165×⇩ - Michrond

PDF typeset by arranger
Michrond (2016/2/19)

 Engraving files (Finale & XML)
#412034 - 0.49MB, ? pp. -  0.0/10 2 4 6 8 10 (-) - !N/!N/!N - 58×⇩ - Michrond

ZIP typeset by arranger
Michrond (2016/2/19)

Arranger Michel Rondeau
Publisher. Info. Michel Rondeau
Copyright
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 [tag/del]
Misc. Notes These file(s) are part of the Werner Icking Music Collection.
Purchase
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Aria: 'Johannis freudenvolles Springen' (No.4)

For String Quintets (Lang)

 Complete Score and Parts
#495765 - 0.36MB, 19 pp. -  0.0/10 2 4 6 8 10 (-) - !N/!N/!N - 22×⇩ - FP23

PDF typeset by arranger
FP23 (2017/10/7)

Arranger Peter Lang
Publisher. Info. Peter Lang, 2015.
Copyright
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 [tag/del]
Misc. Notes 2 violas or 2 cellos
Purchase
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General Information

Work Title Christum wir sollen loben schon
Alternative. Title Christ we shall praise splendidly
Authorities WorldCat; Wikipedia; VIAF: 209860679; LCCN: no90014834; GND: 300008147; BNF: 13909731h
Composer Bach, Johann Sebastian
Opus/Catalogue NumberOp./Cat. No. BWV 121 ; BC A 13
I-Catalogue NumberI-Cat. No. IJB 737
Key E minor
Movements/SectionsMov'ts/Sec's 6 movements:
  1. Chorus: Christum wir sollen loben schon [schön] (E minor-F♯ minor)
  2. Aria (tenor): O du von Gott erhöhte Kreatur (B minor)
  3. Recitativo (alto): Der Gnade unermeßlich's Wesen (D major-C major)
  4. Aria (bass): Johannis freudenvolles Springen (C major)
  5. Recitativo (soprano): Doch wie erblickt es dich in deiner Krippe? (G major-B minor)
  6. Chorale: Lob, Ehr und Dank sei dir gesagt (E minor-F♯ minor)
Year/Date of CompositionY/D of Comp. 1724 in Leipzig
First Performance. 1724-12-26 in Leipzig
First Publication. 1878 (BGA)
Librettist see below
Martin Luther (1483-1546) (Nos.1, 6)
Anonymous (Nos.2-5)
Language German
Dedication 2nd day of Christmas
Average DurationAvg. Duration 21 minutes
Composer Time PeriodComp. Period Baroque
Piece Style Baroque
Instrumentation Voices: soprano, alto, tenor, bass; mixed chorus (SATB)
Orchestra: oboe d'amore, cornetto (or horn), 3 trombones, 2 violins, viola, continuo (harpsichord and/or organ)
Primary Sources Bach Digital (source list)
External Links Wikipedia article
Bach-Cantatas.com

Misc. Comments

Commentary on the movements

  1. [Chorale]: Christum wir sollen loben schon [schön]. A choral motet—each line has an imitative section with the soprano singing the chorale tune as cantus firmus. The sound, perhaps due to the ancient form, is firmly rooted in the past.
  2. Aria (Tenor): O du von Gott erhöhte Kreatur. An interesting phrase structure of 12 measures begins the aria; the oboe d'amore gets quite a workout in the process.
    The fluctuation between the tonic and relative minor illustrates the dual nature of the text.
  3. Recitativo (Alto): Der Gnade unermeßlichs Wesen. Secco recitative, with an interesting final cadence.
  4. Aria (Bass): Johannis freudenvolles Springen. Accompanied by all the strings, this attractive movement is full of complex imitation, but is still euphonious and pleasing, with no need for deep analysis to discover its full pleasures.
  5. Recitativo (Soprano): Doch wie erblickt es dich in deiner Krippen? Secco recitaitve.
  6. Choral: Lob, Ehr und Dank sei dir gesagt. A plain chorale setting.

Print Sources Consulted

Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.


Cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach
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