rssThe Ascension
The Feast of the Ascension with Medieval Wall Painting in English Parish Churches and Bach's Cantata BWV 37, Wer da gläubet und getauft wird.
I was captivated by this wonderful photo by T. Marshall of a wall painting in Seething, Norfolk. I love the feet disappearing into the void, perhaps a cloud, or perhaps there was a full figure originally and it has been obliterated. I love the warmth and color and the suggestion of the upwards watching friends and family below. Very likely this painting was detailed when created originally, but I believe its charm has grown with the passing of centuries.
I have just begun listening to cantata BWV 37, and am growing to love it. This cantata dedicated to faith is not grand, but is written on a small scale. There is a gentle energy in all parts of the music. There is no sense of triumphant gladness, but rather a quiet confidence in the friend who is going before. I especially appreciate the third movement which is a duet by Soprano and Alto on the chorale melody "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern", which appears again soon on Whit (Pentecost) Sunday. I am also very fond of the oboe obbligato in the bass aria; much of the energy and forward movement comes from this reed instrument used so often by Bach.
Part two is a tenor aria which originally had a violin obbligato accompaniment which has been lost. I favor the violin parts in the Harnoncourt and the Gardiner edition, both possibly written by Alfred Dürr at different times. I do not have the score for any of the violin parts which show up in the excerpts below and the liner notes do not address this issue (a shame). In his book The Cantatas of J.S. Bach, Mr. Dürr says: "…with the aid of thematic material developed in the tenor and continuo parts, it may be reconstructed well enough for no breach of style to be apparent and without the overall impression suffering from its failings." I feel the violin parts as presented in these recordings live up to this expectation.
Music Samples
BWV 37 Complete cantata by Leusink
Excerpts
BWV 37.1 Opening Chorus by Harnoncourt
BWV 37.2 Tenor Aria: Leusink with tenor and continuo, no violin
BWV 37.2 Tenor Aria: Koopman with tenor, continuo and violin (written by Koopman)
BWV 37.2 Tenor Aria: Harnoncourt with tenor, continuo and violin (?written by A. Dürr)
BWV 37.2 Tenor Aria: Gardiner with tenor, continuo and violin (?written by A. Dürr)
BWV 37.3 Chorale Soprano and Alto: Leusink
BWV 37.3 Chorale Soprano and Alto: Harnoncourt
BWV 37.3 Chorale Soprano and Alto: Gardiner
BWV 37.3 Chorale Soprano and Alto: Koopman
BWV 37.4 Bass Recitive: Leusink
BWV 37.5 Bass Aria: Leusink
BWV 37.6 Chorale: Leusink
BWV 37.6 Chorale: Score
Discussions of the Cantata
Notes from the Bach Cantatas Website
Notes from Craig Smith
Notes from Simon Crouch
Translation by Craig Smith
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