Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd
Encyclopedia
Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd (The lively hunt is all my heart's desire), BWV
208, also known as the Hunting Cantata, is a secular cantata
composed in 1713 by Johann Sebastian Bach
for the 31st birthday of Duke Christian of Saxe-Weissenfels
. Aria 5, "Schafe können sicher weiden" (or "Sheep may safely graze"), is the most familiar part of this cantata. A normal performance lasts for about forty minutes.
wrote several "free rambles" on Bach’s Sheep may safely graze. He first wrote Blithe Bells, (as he called his free ramble), for ‘elastic scoring’ between November 1930 and February 1931. In March 1931, he scored a wind band version. It became one of his most famous arrangements.
BWV
The Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis is the numbering system identifying compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach. The prefix BWV, followed by the work's number, is the shorthand identification for Bach's compositions...
208, also known as the Hunting Cantata, is a secular cantata
Bach cantata
Bach cantata became a term for a cantata of the German Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach who was a prolific writer of the genre. Although many of his works are lost, around 200 cantatas survived....
composed in 1713 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
for the 31st birthday of Duke Christian of Saxe-Weissenfels
Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels
Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels , was a duke of Saxe-Weissenfels-Querfurt and member of the House of Wettin....
. Aria 5, "Schafe können sicher weiden" (or "Sheep may safely graze"), is the most familiar part of this cantata. A normal performance lasts for about forty minutes.
Personnel and instruments
- Diana, sopranoSopranoA soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
I - Pales, soprano II
- Endymion, tenorTenorThe tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
- Pan, bass
- SATB Chorus
- 2 horns, 2 recorders, 2 oboes, oboe da caccia, bassoon, 2 violins, viola, cello, violone, and continuo.
Movements
- Recitative: Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd! (in F major/B flat major, for soprano I with continuo)
- Aria: Jagen ist die Lust der Götter (in F major, for soprano I with 2 horns and continuo)
- Recitative: Wie, schönste Göttin? wie? (in D minor, for tenor with continuo)
- Aria: Willst du dich nicht mehr ergetzen (in D minor, for tenor with continuo)
- Recitative: Ich liebe dich zwar noch! (in B flat major/C major, for soprano I and tenor with continuo)
- Recitative: Ich, der ich sonst ein Gott (in A minor/G major, for bass and continuo)
- Aria: Ein Fürst ist seines Landes Pan (in C major, for bass with 2 oboes, English horn and continuo)
- Recitative: Soll dann der Pales Opfer hier das letzte sein? (in F major/G minor, for soprano II with continuo)
- Aria: Schafe können sicher weiden (in B flat major, for soprano II with 2 recorders and continuo)
- Recitative: So stimmt mit ein und lasst des Tages Lust volkommen sein (in F major, for soprano I with continuo)
- Chorus: Lebe, Sonne dieser Erden (in F major, for sopranos I and II, tenor, bass with 2 horns, 2 oboes, English horn, bassoon and cello in unison, cords, violone and continuo)
- Aria (duet): Entzücket uns beide, ihr Strahlen der Freude (in F major, for soprano I and tenor with violin solo and continuo)
- Aria: Weil die wollenreichen Heerden (in F major, for soprano II and continuo)
- Aria: Ihr Felder und Auen, lass grünend euch schauen (in F major, for bass with continuo)
- Chorus: Ihr lieblichste Blicke, ihr freudige Stunden (in F major, for soprano I and II, tenor, bass with 2 horns, 2 oboes, English horn, bassoon, cords, cello, violone and continuo)
Arrangements
Australian-born composer Percy GraingerPercy Grainger
George Percy Aldridge Grainger , known as Percy Grainger, was an Australian-born composer, arranger and pianist. In the course of a long and innovative career he played a prominent role in the revival of interest in British folk music in the early years of the 20th century. He also made many...
wrote several "free rambles" on Bach’s Sheep may safely graze. He first wrote Blithe Bells, (as he called his free ramble), for ‘elastic scoring’ between November 1930 and February 1931. In March 1931, he scored a wind band version. It became one of his most famous arrangements.
Recordings
- J.S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 3 - Barbara SchlickBarbara SchlickBarbara Schlick is a German soprano who is particularly admired for interpretations of the concert literature of the baroque era.-Career:...
, Elisabeth von MagnusElisabeth von MagnusElisabeth von Magnus is an Austrian classical mezzo-soprano.- Family :...
, Paul AgnewPaul AgnewPaul Agnew is a Scottish operatic tenor.Agnew read music as a Choral Scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford. He became associated with the Consort of Musicke, the Tallis Scholars, the Sixteen and the Gothic Voices, before embarking on a solo career in the early 1990s.Closely associated with William...
, Klaus MertensKlaus MertensKlaus Mertens is a German bass and bass-baritone singer who is known especially for his interpretation of the complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach.-Professional career:Klaus Mertens took singing lessons while attending school...
, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & ChoirAmsterdam Baroque Orchestra & ChoirThe Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir is a Dutch early-music group based in Amsterdam.The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir was created in two stages by the conductor, organist and harpsichordist Ton Koopman. He founded the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra in 1979 and the Amsterdam Baroque Choir in...
, Ton KoopmanTon KoopmanTon Koopman is a conductor, organist and harpsichordist.Koopman had a "classical education" and then studied the organ , harpsichord and musicology in Amsterdam...
conductor. Label: Antoine Marchand