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 Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow Cantata CXC.: Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied 1 . Feast of the Circumcision (New Year's Day) ( c. 1725 2 ) - Bach's Chorals, vol. 2 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Cantatas and Motetts

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Subject Area: Music
Subject Area: Religion

Cantata CXC.: Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied 1 . Feast of the Circumcision (New Year’s Day) ( c. 1725 2 ) - Johann Sebastian Bach, Bach’s Chorals, vol. 2 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Cantatas and Motetts [1917]

Edition used:

Bach’s Chorals. Part I: 2 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Cantatas and Motetts, by Charles Sanford Terry (Cambridge University Press, 1915-1921). 3 vols. Vol. 2.

Part of: Bach’s Chorals, 3 vols.

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Cantata CXC.

Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied1 . Feast of the Circumcision (New Year’s Day) (c. 17252 )

(a)

The words and melody of the Choral in the second movement are those of Luther’s version of the “Te Deum” (see Cantata 16).

The words are the first two clauses of the “Te Deum”:

  • Herr Gott dich loben wir!
  • Herr Gott wir danken dir!

  • B.G. xxxvii. 244.

Form. Extended; the lines being interrupted by Recitativo passages for Bass and Tenor (3 Trombe, Timp., 3 Ob., Strings, Continuo)

In two places in the opening Chorus, “Singet dem Herrn,” the four voices in unison declaim the first two lines of the Choral (B.G. xxxvii. 236, 240).

(b)

The words and melody of the concluding Choral are Johann Hermann’s New Year Hymn, “Jesu, nun sei gepreiset” (see Cantata 41).

The words are the second stanza of the Hymn:

  • Lass’ uns das Jahr vollbringen,
  • Zu Lob dem Namen dein,
  • Dass wir demselben singen
  • In der Christengemein;
  • Wollst uns das Leben fristen
  • Durch dein’ allmächtig’ Hand;
  • Erhalt’ dein’ liebe Christen
  • Und unser Vaterland.
  • Dein’n Segen zu uns wende,
  • Gieb Fried’ an allem Ende;
  • Gieb unverfalscht im Lande
  • Dein seligmachend Wort.
  • Die Heuchler1 mach’ zu Schande
  • Hier und an allem Ort.

  • B.G. xxxvii. 257.

Form. Embellished (3 Trombe, Timp., 3 Ob., Strings, Continuo). Choralgesange, No. 205.

[1 ] An English version of the Cantata. “Sing to the Lord a glad new song,” is published by Breitkopf & Haertel.

[2 ] In a revised form Bach used the Cantata for the commemoration of the Augsburg Confession at Leipzig on June 25, 1730 (Spitta, ii. 387).

[1 ] 1593 Teuffel.