Bach: Magnificat / Collegium Vocale Gent
Magnificat is a piece of music attached to the lyrics of the hymn to Mary from the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament. The Magnificat was originally intended as music for Catholic evening prayer, but it was also commonly performed in Lutheran Protestantism on the three major holidays of Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. Bach composed and arranged two types of Magnificat using the Latin lyrics verbatim (BWV 243 and BWV 243a). Incidentally, the lyrics of Bach’s Cantata No. 10, “Meine Seel erhebt den Herren,” are based on a German translation of the Magnificat by Martin Luther.
The first piece is a chorus of three trumpets, timpani, strings and basso continuo, familiar from Bach’s festive music, with the addition of two flutes and two oboes for a full orchestra. The second piece is the soprano aria “et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo,” accompanied by strings and basso continuo. The third piece is the soprano aria “quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent,” played with a beautiful oboe d’amore obbligato. The second half goes directly into the chorus “omnes generationes.” The fourth piece is the bass aria “quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est,et sanctum nomen eius.” The fifth piece is a duet, “et misericordia eius in progenies et progenies timentibus eum,” sung by an alto and a tenor. The sixth is by chorus “Fecit potentiam in brachio suo, dispersit superbos mente cordis sui.” The seventh movement is a tenor aria, “deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles.” It is followed by the famous alto aria “esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes,” sung by two flutes obbligato. The eighth piece is a trio of two sopranos and an alto, “Suscepit Israel puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae.” The melody of Luther’s chorale “Meine Seel erhebt den Herren” is played with oboes unison. The ninth piece is a chorus fugue, “sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini eius in saecula.” The final piece is the “Gloria patri” by full orchestra and chorus. #baroque #bach #magnificat #片山俊幸
