Librettist: Johann Christoph Gottsched
Vocal parts/characters:
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass soloists
Instruments:
2 transverse flutes
2 oboe d’amore
2 viola da gamba
2 lutes
strings (2 sections of violins and violas)
continuo (clavichord—arias/recitatives and organ—choruses)
General comments:
Queen Christiane Eberhardine’s death in 1727 touched Saxony much as Princess Diana’s death in 1997 touched Britain (and, indeed, the world). Like Diana, Queen Eberhardine’s husband (Augustus II) was unfaithful; unlike Diana, she remained faithful herself. Additionally, Augustus converted to Catholicism in order to win the Polish crown, while Eberhardine—to the endearment of the Saxon people—again remained faithful (to Lutheranism). Hans Carl von Kirchbach, a noble in the University of Leipzig, commissioned Professor Johann Christoph Gottsched to write the libretto to a funeral cantata, and our friend Johann Sebastian to write the music. Technically, Görner, the University’s music director, should have been commissioned: there was initially a big stink over musical jurisdiction that was finally settled when Kirchbach agreed to pay Görner twelve thalers to let Bach compose the music.
Movement-by-movement description:
1. Chorus: “Lass, Fürstin, lass noch einen Strahl”
A magnificent chorus that beseeches the dead Queen to let just one more gleam of her radiant beauty fall to earth. If the music sounds like it belongs in one of Bach’s passions, that’s because it does—it was eventually re-worked into the lost (though oft-reconstructed) St. Mark Passion.
(the rest coming soon)
Libretto:
Also see Walter F. Bischof’s complete Bach Cantata Libretti in German for BWV 198
1. Chorus: “Lass, Fürstin, lass noch einen Strahl”
Lass, Fürstin, lass noch einen Strahl
Aus Salems Sterngewölben schiessen.
Und sich, mit wieviel Tränengüssen
Umringen wir dein Ehrenmal.
(the rest coming soon)
Midi:
I can’t find a score of this piece, but I would love to get (or transcribe) a midi file of it; if anyone has one, please email me.
Go back to Bach’s Secular Cantatas