Cantata No. 1 "Wie schon leuchtet..." - Vocal Score (Ger/Eng)

The cantata “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern” BWV 1 was written for 25 March 1725, when the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Mary coincided with Palm Sunday. It forms the conclusion of Bach’s cantata cycle of 1724/25.

The anonymous librettist retained the outer verses 1 and 7 of Philipp Nicolai’s text (1599) which is assigned to the feast of Epiphany according to old tradition but was also sung at the Annunciation of the Blessed Mary. Verses 2 to 6 form the basis for the tenor and bass recitatives and the soprano and tenor arias.

Bach’s composition has a particularly festive brilliance with his use of 2 horns, 2 oboes da caccia and the two concertante solo violins. The violins’ lively figurations clearly reflect an image of the shining morning star.

• Urtext of the New Bach Edition
• Original German text with English singing translation
• Idiomatic and easy-to-play piano reduction

Table of Contents:

• 1. (Coro): Wie schon leuchtet der Morgenstern / How bright and fair the morning star
• 2. Recitativo (Tenore): Du wahrer Gottes und Marien Sohn / Thou very son of God and Mary born
• 3. Aria (Soprano): Erfullet, ihr himmlischen, gottlichen Flammen / Come kindle, thou heavenly bri...
• 4. Recitativo (Basso): Ein ird'scher Glanz, ein lieblich Licht / Our hearts rejoice in no false ligh
• 5. Aria (Tenore): Unser Mund und Ton der Saiten / Harp and viol, voices blending
• 6. Choral: Wie bin ich doch so herzlich froh / What joy my Saviour brings to me

Publisher:	Bärenreiter
Composer/Author:	Bach, J. S.
Arranger/Editor:	Focke / Wendt
Catalog Number:	BA10001-90
Pages:	37