Magnificat (Bach)
Encyclopedia
The Magnificat
in D major
, BWV
243, is a major vocal work of Johann Sebastian Bach
. It was composed for orchestra
, a five-part choir
and four or five soloists. The text is the canticle
of Mary, mother of Jesus, as told by Luke the Evangelist
(see Magnificat
for more).
Bach composed an initial version in E flat major in 1723 for Christmas
Vespers
in Leipzig
. He later removed the Christmas-specific texts to make it suitable for year-round performance, as well as transposing
it to D major, providing better sonority for the trumpet
s in particular. The new version, which is the one usually performed, had its premiere at the Thomaskirche on July 2, 1733, the fourth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
, which was the Feast of the Visitation at the time. The Feast was later moved to the end of May.
The work is divided into twelve parts which can be grouped into three movements, each beginning with an aria
and completed by the choir in a fugal chorus. Its performance lasts approximately thirty minutes. The indented parts below indicate the removed Christmas texts.
The five soloists are Soprano I, Soprano II, Alto, Tenor and Bass.
Magnificat
The Magnificat — also known as the Song of Mary or the Canticle of Mary — is a canticle frequently sung liturgically in Christian church services. It is one of the eight most ancient Christian hymns and perhaps the earliest Marian hymn...
in D major
D major
D major is a major scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature consists of two sharps. Its relative minor is B minor and its parallel minor is D minor....
, BWV
BWV
The Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis is the numbering system identifying compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach. The prefix BWV, followed by the work's number, is the shorthand identification for Bach's compositions...
243, is a major vocal work of Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
. It was composed for orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
, a five-part choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
and four or five soloists. The text is the canticle
Canticle
A canticle is a hymn taken from the Bible. The term is often expanded to include ancient non-biblical hymns such as the Te Deum and certain psalms used liturgically.-Roman Catholic Church:From the Old Testament, the Roman Breviary takes seven canticles for use at Lauds, as follows:*...
of Mary, mother of Jesus, as told by Luke the Evangelist
Luke the Evangelist
Luke the Evangelist was an Early Christian writer whom Church Fathers such as Jerome and Eusebius said was the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles...
(see Magnificat
Magnificat
The Magnificat — also known as the Song of Mary or the Canticle of Mary — is a canticle frequently sung liturgically in Christian church services. It is one of the eight most ancient Christian hymns and perhaps the earliest Marian hymn...
for more).
Bach composed an initial version in E flat major in 1723 for Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
Vespers
Vespers
Vespers is the evening prayer service in the Western Catholic, Eastern Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran liturgies of the canonical hours...
in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
. He later removed the Christmas-specific texts to make it suitable for year-round performance, as well as transposing
Transposition (music)
In music transposition refers to the process, or operation, of moving a collection of notes up or down in pitch by a constant interval.For example, one might transpose an entire piece of music into another key...
it to D major, providing better sonority for the trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
s in particular. The new version, which is the one usually performed, had its premiere at the Thomaskirche on July 2, 1733, the fourth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Trinity Sunday
Trinity Sunday is the first Sunday after Pentecost in the Western Christian liturgical calendar, and the Sunday of Pentecost in Eastern Christianity...
, which was the Feast of the Visitation at the time. The Feast was later moved to the end of May.
The work is divided into twelve parts which can be grouped into three movements, each beginning with an aria
Aria
An aria in music was originally any expressive melody, usually, but not always, performed by a singer. The term is now used almost exclusively to describe a self-contained piece for one voice usually with orchestral accompaniment...
and completed by the choir in a fugal chorus. Its performance lasts approximately thirty minutes. The indented parts below indicate the removed Christmas texts.
The five soloists are Soprano I, Soprano II, Alto, Tenor and Bass.
- Choir — "Magnificat“
- Aria (soprano II) — "Et exsultavit spiritus meus“
- A. Choral motetMotetIn classical music, motet is a word that is applied to a number of highly varied choral musical compositions.-Etymology:The name comes either from the Latin movere, or a Latinized version of Old French mot, "word" or "verbal utterance." The Medieval Latin for "motet" is motectum, and the Italian...
— "Vom Himmel hoch“
- A. Choral motet
- Aria (soprano I) — "Quia respexit humilitatem“
- Choir — "Omnes generationes“
- Aria (bass) — "Quia fecit mihi magna“
- B. Choir — "Freut euch und jubiliert“
- Duet (alto, tenor) — "Et misericordia“
- Choir — "Fecit potentiam“
- C. Choir — "Gloria in excelsis Deo“
- Aria (tenor) — "Deposuit potentes“
- Aria (alto) — "Esurientes implevit bonis“
- D. Duet (soprano, bass) — "Virga Jesse floruit“
- Trio (soprano I/II, alto) — "Suscepit Israel“
- Choir or five soloists — "Sicut locutus est“
- Choir — "Gloria Patri“