The cantata 'Meine Seel erhebt den Herren', performed here by the Netherlands Bach Society for All of Bach, was written by Bach for the Feast of Visitation on 2 July 1724 in Leipzig. The church reading for that day was the passage from the Gospel of Luke that describes the expectant Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth, who is also expecting. When the two women greet one another, Elizabeth’s baby (who grew up to be John the Baptist) jumps for joy in her belly, as he recognises Jesus in Mary’s belly. Then Mary bursts into what is known as Mary’s hymn of praise, or the Magnificat.
Following a short instrumental introduction, the chorus enters in a joyful chorale. The long lines in the orchestra contrast with the quick, lively parts for the choir, creating an effect of exuberant cheerfulness and energy – also later on, when the roles are reversed. The joyful mood continues in the jumpy, dancy soprano aria. The many leaps automatically suggest the baby’s jumps for joy in Elizabeth’s belly. The quick descending lines in the accompaniment of the virtuoso bass aria (Gewaltig stöβt Gott vom Stuhl) illustrate the words exceptionally well. You hear how God casts down the mighty from their thrones into the Schwefelpfuhl (sulphur pit). The recitative by the tenor (Was Gott den Vätern) and the closing chorus bring peace and contemplation.
Recorded for the project All of Bach on December 13th 2018 at the Grote Kerk, Naarden. If you want to help us complete All of Bach, please subscribe to our channel [ Ссылка ] and consider donating [ Ссылка ].
For more information on BWV 10 and this production go to [ Ссылка ]
All of Bach is a project of the Netherlands Bach Society / Nederlandse Bachvereniging, offering high-quality film recordings of the works by Johann Sebastian Bach, performed by the Netherlands Bach Society and its guest musicians. Visit our free online treasury for more videos and background material [ Ссылка ]. For concert dates and further information go to [ Ссылка ].
Netherlands Bach Society
Marcus Creed, conductor
Griet de Geyter, sopran
Alex Potter, alto
Guy Cutting, tenor
Matthias Winckhler, bass
0:07 Meine Seel erhebt den Herren (Chor)
3:37 Herr, der du stark und mächtig bist (Arie)
9:55 Des Höchsten Güt und Treu (Rezitativ)
11:22 Gewaltige stößt Gott vom Stuhl (Arie)
14:07 Er denket der Barmherzigkeit (Duett & choral)
16:02 Was Gott den Vätern alter Zeiten (Rezitativ)
18:08 Lob und Preis sei Gott (Choral)
