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Schleicht, spielende Wellen, BWV 206

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Schleicht, spielende Wellen (Glide, O sparkling waves and murmur softly), BWV 206, is a secular cantata composed by Johann Sebastian Bach in Leipzig and first performed on 7 October 1736.

Contents

History and text

Bach composed this cantata for the birthday of Augustus III of Poland. It was first performed in Leipzig on 7 October 1736. A second performance took place on 3 August 1740.

The librettist of the work is unknown, but was likely Picander.

Scoring and structure

The cantata features four vocal parts: Pleiße (soprano), Donau (alto), Elbe (tenor), and Weichsel (bass). It is also scored for four-part choir, three trumpets, timpani, three flutes, two oboes, two oboes d'amore, two violins, viola, and basso continuo.

It has eleven movements:

  1. Chorus: Schleicht, spielende Wellen, und murmelt gelinde
  2. Recitative (bass): O glückliche Veränderung
  3. Aria (bass): Schleuß des Janustempels Türen
  4. Recitative (tenor): So recht! beglückter Weichselstrom
  5. Aria (tenor): Jede Woge meiner Wellen
  6. Recitative (alto): Ich nehm zugleich an deiner Freude teil
  7. Aria (alto): Reis von Habsburgs hohem Stamme
  8. Recitative (soprano): Verzeiht, Bemooste Häupter starker Ströme
  9. Aria (soprano): Hört doch! der sanften Flöten Chor
  10. Recitative (SATB): Ich muss, ich will gehorsam sein
  11. Chorus: Die himmlische Vorsicht der ewigen Güte

Recordings

  • Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir, Ton Koopman. J.S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 5. Erato, 1996.
  • Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart / Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Helmuth Rilling. Edition Bachakademie Vol. 64. Hänssler, 1994.
  • Kammerchor Stuttgart / Concerto Köln, Frieder Bernius. J.S. Bach Secular Cantatas BWV 206 & 207a. Sony Classical, 1990.

    • References

    Schleicht, spielende Wellen, BWV 206 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA