Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir, BWV 29

Template:Good article Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox Bach composition (We thank you, God, we thank you),Template:Sfn BWV29, is a sacred cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed it in Leipzig in 1731 for , the annual inauguration of a new town council, and first performed it on 27 August of that year. The cantata was part of a festive service in the St. Nicholas Church. The cantata text by an unknown author includes in movement 2 the beginning of Psalm 75, and as the closing chorale the fifth stanza of Johann Gramann's "". Bach scored the work in eight movements for four vocal parts and a festive Baroque orchestra of three trumpets, timpani, two oboes, strings, an obbligato organ and basso continuo. The organ dominates the first movement Sinfonia which Bach derived from a Partita for violin. The full orchestra accompanies the first choral movement and plays with the voices in the closing chorale, while a sequence of three arias alternating with two recitatives is scored intimately.

Bach used the music from the choral movement for both the and of his Mass in B minor.

History and words

File:Leipzig Nikolaikirche BW 2012-09-10 18-11-46.jpg

St. Nicholas Church, Leipzig, the regular location of the service celebrating the new council

Bach composed the cantata in 1731 for , the inauguration of the new town council, which was celebrated annually in a festive service in the St. Nicholas Church on the Monday following the feast day of St. Bartholomew (24 August).Template:Sfn It was not a democratic election, but a "ceremonial transfer of office"Template:Sfn of council members who were appointed.Template:Sfn The service was not part of the liturgical year with cantata texts related to prescribed biblical epistle and gospel readings. For the same occasion, Bach had already written the cantata , in his first year in Leipzig, 1723. For the service, he could count on the entire council (his employer) listening, probably also civil servants and representatives of the Elector's administration for the region. The musicologist Klaus Hofmann notes: "It was an opportunity for Bach to show how sacred music was flourishing under his direction and to present himself as a composer."Template:Sfn

The cantata text of Wir danken dir, Gott by an unknown authorTemplate:Sfn includes in movement 2 the first verse of Psalm 75 (Psalm 75:1) and as the closing chorale the fifth stanza of Johann Gramann's hymn of praise "" (1540).Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Bach first performed the cantata on 27 August 1731.Template:Sfn In 1733, he adapted the music of the first choral movement with only minor changes for the of his Kyrie-Gloria Mass for the Dresden court, on a text expressing the same idea in Latin.Template:Sfn According to Hofmann, the movement is based on an earlier lost composition.Template:Sfn

Bach performed the cantata for at least two more times, on 31 August 1739 and on 25 August 1749.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn He expanded the Missa of 1733 to his Mass in B minor and concluded his work by repeating the music as the .Template:Sfn

Scoring and structure

The cantata is structured in eight movements and takes about 28 minutes to perform.Template:Sfn The instrumentation reflects the festive occasion for which it was written. Bach scored the work for four vocal soloists (soprano (S), alto (A), tenor (T) and bass) (B), a four-part choir, and a Baroque orchestra of three trumpets (Tr), timpani (Ti), two oboes (Ob), two violins (Vl) (violin solo in movement 3), violas (Va), an obbligato organ (Org) and basso continuo (Bc).Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The autograph score is titled: "Bey der Rahts-Wahl / 1731. / Wir dancken dir, Gott, wir dancken dir. / à / 4 Voci. / 3 Trombe / Tamburi / 2 Hautbois / 2 Violini / Viola / e / Continuo / con Organo obligato / di / Joh.Seb:Bach.Template:Sfn

In the following table of the movements, the scoring follows the Neue Bach-Ausgabe,Template:Sfn and the abbreviations for voices and instruments the list of Bach cantatas. The time signature is provided using the symbol for common time (4/4). The timpani are listed with the trumpets because they always play together.

No.	Type	Text	Text source	Vocal	Brass	Wood	Strings	Organ/ Bass	Key	Time
1	Sinfonia				3Tr Ti	2Ob	2Vl Va	Org Bc	D major	3/4
2	Chorus		Psalm	SATB	3Tr Ti	2Ob	2Vl Va	Bc	D major
3	Aria		anon.	T			Vl solo	Bc	A major	cut time
4	Recitative		anon.	B				Bc	F-sharp minor – E minor	common time
5	Aria		anon.	S		Ob	2Vl Va	Bc	B minor	6/8
6	Recitative		anon.	A SATB				Bc	D major – D major	common time
7	Aria		anon.	A				Org Bc	D major	6/8
8	Chorale		Gramann	SATB	3Tr Ti	2Ob	2Vl Va	Bc	D major	3/4

Music

1

File:Bach BVW 29 autograph.jpg

The first page of the autograph manuscript, Sinfonia

The cantata is one of few sacred Bach cantatas opened by an orchestral sinfonia. Another is the early . The music is an arrangement of the prelude from Bach's Partita for violin, BWV 1006, which Bach had already revised for organ and strings in 1729 for the wedding cantata .Template:Sfn In the cantata for , the solo organ plays the original violin part "in virtuoso motoric writing",Template:Sfn while the full orchestra adds an accompaniment.Template:Sfn

2

The first vocal movement is a setting of verse 1 of Psalm 75, "", translated in the King James version of the bible as "Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare". In contrast to the virtuoso introduction, the chorus begins in motet style in grave .Template:Sfn The bass begins in great simplicity a theme in even steps; the tenor starts imitating almost immediately, the alto a little later, then the soprano. A countersubject illustrates the telling of God's wonders, embellishing the words ("declare") and ("wondrous works"). In the beginning only oboes and strings play with the voices, then a trumpet doubles the soprano. Developing further, two trumpets take part in the polyphony, and a climax is reached when the third trumpet and timpani enter. Hofmann comments that although the movement begins in old style, "Bach’s method of intensification (by means of which he gradually introduces trumpets and ultimately allows the theme to be heard in stretta) is thoroughly baroque.Template:Sfn

3

"" (Alleluia, strength and power) is set as an aria for tenor.Template:Sfn The voice, a solo violin and the continuo are equal partners.Template:Sfn

4

A recitative for bass, "" (Praise God! It is well for us!)Template:Sfn mentions that God "holds his hand protectively and in blessing above the city".Template:Sfn

5

The soprano aria is a prayer, "" (Consider us with Your love)Template:Sfn‘’ (‘Think of us with your love’) for "God’s future providence", described by Hofmann as "a musical display piece full of warmth and tenderness in a rocking siciliano rhythm. For long stretches in the vocal sections, Bach does without a continuo accompaniment (thus without the instrumental bass register) – a tactic that effectively contributes to creating a sonic impression of tenderness and charm".Template:Sfn

6

A recitative for alto is a prayer for future protection, "" (Do not forget later, with Your hand),Template:Sfn concluded by a choral Amen in unison. The surprise is an interpretation of a line quoted from Deuteronomy 27:1526, "und alles Volk soll sagen: Amen!" (And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.).Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

7

The alto performs the last aria, "" (Hallelujah, power and might)Template:Sfn‘’, repeating and reinforcing the thoughts of the first. The music repeats the main section of the tenor aria, now accompanied by the organ. This close connection within the structure of the work of both the theme (3 and 7) and the instrument (1 and 7) is unusual in Bach's cantatas.Template:Sfn

8

In the closing chorale, "" (Glory, and praise with honor)Template:Sfn trumpets and timpani accentuate the ends of some lines of the fifth verse of Johann Gramann's "".Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn <score sound raw> \header { tagline = ##f } \paper { paper-width = 250\mm } \layout {

 \context { \Score \remove "Bar_number_engraver" }
 \context { \Staff \RemoveAllEmptyStaves }
 \context { \Voice \remove "Dynamic_engraver" }

}

global = { \key d \major \time 3/4 \partial 4 }

trumpetC = \relative c { \global \set midiInstrument = "trumpet" \set Voice.midiPanPosition = 1

 \repeat volta 2 { r4^"Three trumpets" | R2. | r4 r << { \voiceOne <a' fis>4\fff | fis } \\ { \voiceTwo fis,8 a | d4 } >>
 << { g8 [fis] e g } \\ { e2 } \\ { \voiceTwo d,4 a' } >> |
 << { <fis' d>2 } \\ { a,2 } >> r4 | R2. | r4 r <a' e a,> |
 <a d, a> << { g8 [fis] e g } \\ { e2 } \\ { \voiceTwo r4 a, } >> | <fis' d a>2 }
 r4 | R2.*22 | r4 r << { a4~ | a8 [g!] fis [e] fis gis } \\ { <fis d,>4 | <e a> <d a>2 } >> |
 <a' e a,>2 r4 | r r <a e a,> | << { <a d,> b8 [a] g a } \\ { fis8 g e2 } \\ { \voiceTwo s4 r4 a, } >>
 <fis' d a>2 \bar "|."

} sd = \stemDown su = \stemUp TimpaniNotes = { \global \omit Staff.KeySignature \override Staff.StaffSymbol.line-count = #1

 \repeat volta 2 { r4^"Timpani" | R2. | r4 r \sd d | \su d d \sd d | \su d2 r4 R2. |
   r4 r \sd d | \su d d \sd d | \su d2 }
 r4 | R2.*22 | r4 r \su d | \sd d \su d2 | \sd d2 r4 |
 r r \sd d | \su d r \sd d | \su d2 \bar "|."

}

timpaniSound = { \global \clef bass \set midiInstrument = "timpani"

 \repeat volta 2 { r4^"Timpani" | R2. | r4 r a, | d d a, | d2 r4 R2. | r4 r a, | d d a, | d2 }
 r4 | R2.*22 | r4 r d | a, d2 | a,2 r4 | r r a, | d r a, | d2 \bar "|."

}

soprano = \new Voice = "sopvoice" \relative c { \global \set midiInstrument = "violin" \set Voice.midiPanPosition = -0.5 \voiceOne

 \repeat volta 2 { d4 | d2 cis4 | b2 a4 | d4 (e2) | fis2\fermata
 fis4 | fis8 (e) fis2 | fis e4 |d8 (e) e2 | d2\fermata }
 d4 | d (e) fis | e2 fis8 (e) | d (e cis2) | b2\fermata
 e4 | e (d) cis | d8 (cis) b2 | a\fermata
 a4 | d2 d4 | e2 e4 | fis (e fis) | d2\fermata
 d4 | g2 g4 | fis8 (e) fis2 | e2\fermata
 e4 | fis2 fis4 | g2 g4 | a4. (g8 fis e) | d2\fermata
 fis4 | e (d) cis | d8 (cis) b2 | a2\fermata
 a4 | d2 cis4 | b2 a4 | e' fis2 | e\fermata
 fis4 | g (fis) e | fis8 (g) e2 | d2\fermata \bar "|."

}

alto = \relative c { \global \set midiInstrument = "viola" \set Voice.midiPanPosition = 0.5 \voiceTwo

 \repeat volta 2 { a4 | b a a | a g a8 g | fis4 b a a2
 a4 | a2 cis4 | fis, b e, | a b a8 e | fis2 }
 a4 | b a a | a8 [b] a g fis4 | fis g8 [fis] e fis | d2
 e4 | e2 e4 | a2 gis4 | e2
 e4 | d8 e fis4 b | b a a | a2.~ | a4 (g)
 g8 a | b4 a8 [g] c b | a g c4 b8 a | g2
 a4 | a b2~ | b4 a8 [g] c b | a g a2~ | a4 (g4)
 a4 | b2 a4 | a2 gis4 | e2
 e4 | a8 [gis] a b e,4 | fis cis cis8 d! | e4 a2 | a
 a4 | b a g | fis g8 fis e4 | fis2 \bar "|."

}

tenor = \relative c' { \global \set midiInstrument = "cello" \set Voice.midiPanPosition = -1

 \repeat volta 2 { d4 | d2 fis8 e | d4 e8 d cis4 d2 cis4 | d2
 d4 | d2 cis4 | d2 cis4 | d2 cis4 | a2 }
 d4 | g cis, d | d cis cis | b2 ais4 | b2
 gis8 a! | b [gis] a [b] cis b | a4 fis' e8 d | cis2
 cis8 b | a4 d2~ | d4 cis8 b cis4 | d a d | b2
 b4 | e2 e4 | e2 dis4 | b2
 cis!4 | d2 d4 | g, e'2~ | e4 d4. c8 | b2
 d8 cis! | b4 e2 | d8 e fis4 e8 d | cis2
 cis4~ | cis b a | a gis a | a2 d4 cis2
 d4 | d2 a4 | d2 cis4 | a2 \bar "|."

}

bass = \relative c' { \global \set midiInstrument = "cello" \set Voice.midiPanPosition = 1

 \repeat volta 2 { d8 cis | b4 fis2 | g8 fis e4 fis | b8 a g4 a | d,2
 d4 | d'4. cis8 b [ais] | b [a!] g [fis] g e | fis4 g a | d,2 }
 fis4 | g8 [a] g [fis] e d | a'2 ais4 | b e, fis | b,2
 cis4 | gis'8 [e] fis [gis] a gis | fis e d4 e | a,2
 a'8 g! | fis4 b8 [a] g fis | g [e] a [g] fis e | d [e] d [cis] d fis | g2
 g8 fis | e4 fis8 [g] a b | c4 a b e,2
 a4 | d8 [cis] b [a] g fis | e [d'] c [b] a g | fis [g] fis e d4 | g2
 d'4 | gis,8 [e] fis [gis] a gis | fis e d4 e | a,2
 a'8 gis | fis [e] fis gis a4 | dis,8 [cis] dis [eis] fis e | d! cis d4 d, | a'2
 d8 cis | b [a] b [d] cis e | d4 g, a | d,2 \bar "|."

}

verse = \new Lyrics = "firstVerse" \lyricsto "sopvoice" {

 << { \set stanza = "5."
   Sei Lob und Preis mit Eh -- ren
   Gott Va -- ter, Sohn, hei -- li -- gen Geist! }
   \new Lyrics = "secondverse" \with { alignBelowContext = "firstverse" } { \set associatedVoice = "sopvoice"
   Der woll' in uns ver -- meh -- ren,
   was er uns aus Gna -- den ver -- heißt, }
 >>
 dass wir ihm fest ver -- trau -- en,
 gänz -- lich ver -- lass'n auf ihn,
 von Her -- zen auf ihn bau -- en,
 dass uns'r Herz, Mut und Sinn
 ihm tröst -- lich solln an -- han -- gen.
 Drauf sin -- gen wir zur Stund:
 A -- men, wir wer -- den's er -- lan -- gen,
 glaub'n wir aus Her -- zens -- grund.

}

TimpaniPart = \new Staff \with {

 instrumentName = \markup { \vcenter "Timpani" \column { "D" "A" } }
 midiInstrument = "timpani"

} { \clef bass \TimpaniNotes }

choirPart = \new ChoirStaff

 <<
 \new Staff
   <<
     \soprano
     \alto
   >>
   \new Lyrics \with { \override VerticalAxisGroup #'staff-affinity = #CENTER }
     \context Lyrics = "sopvoice" { \lyricsto "sopvoice" { \verse } }
   \new Staff
   <<
     \clef bass
     \new Voice = "tenor" { \voiceOne \tenor }
     \new Voice = "bass" { \voiceTwo \bass }
   >>
 >>

\score {

 <<
   \new Staff \with { \magnifyStaff #2/3 } \trumpetC
   \new Staff \with { \magnifyStaff #2/3 } \TimpaniPart
   \choirPart
 >>
 \layout { }

} \score { \midi { \tempo 4=96

 \context { \Score midiChannelMapping = #'instrument }
 \context { \Staff \remove "Staff_performer" }
 \context { \Voice \consists "Staff_performer" } }
 \unfoldRepeats { << \trumpetC \\ \timpaniSound \\ \choirPart >> }

} </score>

Recordings

The entries of the following table are taken from the Bach Cantatas website.Template:Sfn

|}

Transcriptions

The Sinfonia has been transcribed for organ by Marcel Dupré, Noel Rawsthorne, and by Ian Tracey. Other transcriptions can be found at Partita for Violin No. 3 (Bach).

Bibliography

Scores

• Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir, BWV 29: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project

Books

Online sources

Several databases provide additional information on each cantata, such as history, scoring, sources for text and music, translations to various languages, discography, discussion and musical analysis.

The complete recordings of Bach's cantatas are accompanied by liner notes from musicians and musicologists: Klaus Hofmann wrote for Masaaki Suzuki, and Christoph Wolff for Ton Koopman.

External links

• "Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir, BWV 29", performance and background information; Netherlands Bach Society, Jos van Veldhoven (conductor), Leo van Doeselaar (organ), Maria Keohane (soprano), Damien Guillon (alto), Valerio Contaldo (tenor), Template:Ill (bass); St. Martin's Church, Groningen, 2014