Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft – Bach (original) (raw)

Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft

BWV 50R performed by the Netherlands Bach Society

conducted by Jos van Veldhoven
St. Martin's Church Groningen

Behind the music

Story

Extra videos

Texts

Credits

Dizzying network

Although we know little about the origins of this choral work, Bach gives us vocal fireworks from beginning to end

There are more unknowns about Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft than knowns. Is it a separate piece or was it part of something else? For what occasion did Bach write it? Is the eight-voice version actually by Bach, or has someone else adapted Bach's perhaps original five-part version into a double-choir work?

There is doubt about the authenticity of the standard version with eight vocal parts divided over two choirs. Some experts believe that the double choir element was added by someone else later on, after which Bach's original version was lost. This supposed five-part original version has been reconstructed by various musicologists, including Jan Kleinbussink. That reconstructed five-part version is performed here.

The occasion of the work is not clear either. The words correspond well to the Feast of St Michael or Michaelmas. In heaven, according to the Book of Revelations, the archangel Michael and his troops of angels conquered the devil disguised as a dragon. Evil was thus cast back down to earth from heaven. So this feast day celebrates the belief that good will conquer evil.

Neither is it clear whether the piece is an independent whole or rather the opening or closing section of a lost cantata. What is certain is that Bach gives us vocal fireworks from beginning to end. In the two sections of equal length, the ascending theme with the audible key words ‘Macht’ and ‘Gott’ is continually repeated (once in descending mirror image), while the other voices add virtuoso countermelodies. It is only towards the end of each half that the structure becomes temporarily a little looser. The result is a dizzying network of musical lines, as if thousands of souls are joining together in exuberant praise of God.

BWV

50R

Title

Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft

Genre

cantatas

City

Leipzig?

Text

lyrics derived from Revelations 12:10

Occasion

Michaelmas? (29 September)

Extra videos

Conductor Jos van Veldhoven

“It's doubtful whether we should call BWV 50 a cantata.”

Vocal texts

Original

1. Chor
Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft
und das Reich und die Macht
unsers Gottes seines Christus worden,
weil der verworfen ist,
der sie verklagete Tag und Nacht vor Gott.

Translation

1. Chorus
Now is come salvation and strength,
and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down,
which accused them
before our God day and night.

Credits

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