Schleicht, spielende Wellen, BWV 206 explained

German: Schleicht, spielende Wellen (Glide, O sparkling waves and murmur softly), BWV 206, is a secular cantata composed by Johann Sebastian Bach in Leipzig and first performed on 7 October 1736.

History and text

Bach composed this cantata for the birthday of Augustus III of Poland and Elector of Saxony. It was first performed in Leipzig, Saxony, on 7 October 1736. A second performance took place on 3 August 1740.^[1]

The librettist of the work is unknown, but was likely Picander. The cantata is counted among the works Bach wrote for celebrations of Leipzig University, Festmusiken zu Leipziger Universitätsfeiern.^[2]

Scoring and structure

The cantata features four solo vocal parts, representing rivers: German: [[Pleiße]] (soprano), German: [[Danube|Donau]] (alto), German: [[Elbe]] (tenor), and German: [[Vistula|Weichsel]] (bass). The cantata is also scored for four-part choir, three flutes, two oboes, two oboes d'amore, three trumpets, timpani, 1st and 2nd violins, violas, and basso continuo.^[3]

It has eleven movements:

1. Chorus: German: Schleicht, spielende Wellen, und murmelt gelinde
2. Recitative (bass): German: O glückliche Veränderung
3. Aria (bass): German: Schleuß des Janustempels Türen
4. Recitative (tenor): German: So recht! beglückter Weichselstrom
5. Aria (tenor): German: Jede Woge meiner Wellen
6. Recitative (alto): German: Ich nehm zugleich an deiner Freude teil
7. Aria (alto): German: Reis von Habsburgs hohem Stamme
8. Recitative (soprano): German: Verzeiht, Bemooste Häupter starker Ströme
9. Aria (soprano): German: Hört doch! der sanften Flöten Chor
10. Recitative (SATB): German: Ich muss, ich will gehorsam sein
11. Chorus: German: Die himmlische Vorsicht der ewigen Güte

Recordings

• Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir, Ton Koopman. J.S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 5. Erato, 1996.
• Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart / Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Helmuth Rilling. Edition Bachakademie Vol. 64. Hänssler, 1994.
• Kammerchor Stuttgart / Concerto Köln, Frieder Bernius. J.S. Bach Secular Cantatas BWV 206 & 207a. Sony Classical, 1990.
• Ex Tempore Choir, Florian Heyerick / Musica Antiqua Köln, Reinhard Goebel BWV 36c, 201, 206, 207, Quodlibet BWV 524. Archiv Produktion 457 348-2, 1996 & 1997.

External links

• Schleicht, spielende Wellen, BWV 206: performance by the Netherlands Bach Society (video and background information)
  • BWV 206 – "Schleicht, spielende Wellen" English translation, Emmanuel Music
• Schleicht, spielende Wellen history, scoring, Bach website
• BWV 206 Schleicht, spielende Wellen English translation, University of Vermont

Notes and References

1. Web site: Cantata BWV 206 Schleicht, spielende Wellen. Bach Cantatas . 14 December 2012.
2. Book: Timm, David . David Timm . Festmusiken zu Leipziger Universitätsfeiern . . 2009 . 8f . de . 2 December 2012.
3. Web site: BWV 206. 6 June 2013. University of Alberta.