Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes BWV 76; BC A 97

^GND

Other catalogues

NV 1790, S. 79 [5]

Genre

Sacred cantata

Proper

Psalm: Psalm 72
Epistel: 1. Johannes 3, 13-18
Gospel: Lukas 14, 16-24

Proper

Psalm: Psalm 72
Epistel: 1. Johannes 3, 13-18
Gospel: Lukas 14, 16-24

Scoring

Sopran solo, Alt solo, Tenor solo, Bass solo, Sopran, Alt, Tenor, Bass, Tromba, Oboe I, Oboe II, Oboe d'amore, Violine I, Violine II, Viola, Viola da gamba, Basso continuo

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Date of origin, Work history

vor dem 6. Juni 1723
First performance on June 6, 1723, as Bach’s inaugural music at St. Thomas Church; subsequent performance of Part II (movement 8–14 or 8–12) possibly on October 31, 1724, or June 10, 1725, as evidenced by the watermark on the viola da gamba part; subsequent performance of Part I (movement 1–7) for the Reformation Festival is not datable; further performances likely after 1740, with handwritten changes by J. S. Bach in the parts for the fugue theme in movement 1. Movement 8 or its source material was incorporated into BWV 528

Early performances

6 June 1723, Leipzig, St. Thomas Church (Premiere) (Link to event)
Predigt: Christian Weise d. Ä.
WA von Teil II (Satz 8—14 oder 8—12) vielleicht am 31. Oktober 1724 oder am 10. Juni 1725; WA von Teil I (Satz 1—7) zum Reformationsfest nicht datierbar; weiter WA vermutlich nach 1740

relation to other works:

is part of BWV diverse [1. Jg.]

relation from other works:

is adapted in BWV 528.2

Comment

In der autographen Partitur Entwürfe zu einem Eingangschor (nicht verwendet) und zu Nr. 7 (NBA Suppl., S. 96‒101, P. Wollny, 2011).

Link to videos:

Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes, BWV 76 (Amsterdam Baroque, T. Koopman)
Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes, BWV 76 (J. S. Bach-Stiftung, St. Gallen)

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Libretto

Author unknown. Movement 1: Psalm 12, verses 2 and 4. Movement 7 and 14: Es woll uns Gott genädig sein (Martin Luther, 1524, based on Psalm 67), stanza 1 and 3
Link to lyrics

Chorale

Satz 7 und 14: Martin Luther, "Es woll uns Gott genädig sein", 1524, Strophen 1 und 3

in: M. Luther [u. a.], Eyn Enchiridion oder Handbuchlein, Erfurt, 1524

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Original sources

D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 67 [Score, Sketch]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach St 13b [Part(s)]

Additional sources

D-B Am.B 44, Faszikel 8 [Score]
D-B Am.B 44 [Konvolut] [Score]
D-Bhm RH 1118 [Konvolut] [Score]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 181 [Score]
D-B Mus.ms. Bach P 445, Faszikel 4 [Score]
D-B N.Mus.ms. 10072-13 [Score]
PL-Wu RM 5920 [Score]
US-NYpm B 1184. C229 (MA 9) [Score]
Verschollen BWV 76, F. Hauser [Score]
Verschollen BWV 76, Kaiserin Augusta-Gymnasium (Berlin) [Score and part(s)]
Verschollen BWV 76, Teil I, Breitkopf [Score]
Verschollen BWV 76, Teil II, Breitkopf [Score]
Verschollen BWV 76 [Arrangement], Kaiserin Augusta-Gymnasium (Berlin) [Part(s)]
Verschollen Sing-Akademie BWV 76 (1), Partitur [Score]
Verschollen Sing-Akademie BWV 76 (2), Stimmen [Part(s)]

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Edition

NBA I/16, S. 1 (Robert Moreen, 1981) – Critical report (1984), S. 12;

BG 18, S.191 (W. Rust, 1870)

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persistent ID

BachDigitalWork_work_00000095

Static URL

https://www.bach-digital.de/receive/BachDigitalWork_work_00000095

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Last changed

2025-06-15 : 08:10:01