Der Herr denket an uns (The Lord is mindful of us), BWV
196, is a cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. It is
difficult to date, but is generally considered to be an
early cantata on stylistic grounds. It has been
suggested that it was composed at Mühlhausen where
Bach lived in 1707/1708.
The text is taken from Psalms 115. Much of Bach's later
cantata output was written for the requirements of the
liturgical calendar, but this cantata appears to have
been written for a special occasion. Th...(+)
Der Herr denket an uns (The Lord is mindful of us), BWV
196, is a cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. It is
difficult to date, but is generally considered to be an
early cantata on stylistic grounds. It has been
suggested that it was composed at Mühlhausen where
Bach lived in 1707/1708.
The text is taken from Psalms 115. Much of Bach's later
cantata output was written for the requirements of the
liturgical calendar, but this cantata appears to have
been written for a special occasion. The psalm includes
the line "The LORD shall increase you more and more,
you and your children". Many commentators, from Philipp
Spitta onwards, have concluded that the cantata was
written for a wedding, and have gone so far as to
suggest actual weddings where it might have been
performed, including Bach's own in 1707. However, the
wedding hypothesis is far from proven, and the text
could fit other occasions.
Although this Cantata is scored for three vocal
soloists (soprano, tenor, and bass), a four-part choir
and an instrumental ensemble consisting of strings and
continuo I created this arrangement for Wind Quintet
(Flute, Oboe, Bb Clarinet, French Horn & Bassoon).
PARTITION