Bach digital -

Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685–1750)

Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben

BWV 147; BWV 147; BC A 174^GND

Visitation, Cantata Cycle I (1723/1724)

Other catalogues

NV 1790, S. 79 [9]; BR-WFB N 110

Genre

Sacred cantata

Proper

Psalm: Psalm 12
Epistel: Jesaja 11, 1-5
Epistel: Römer 12, 9-16
Epistel: Hohelied 2, 8-17
Gospel: Lukas 1, 39-56

Scoring

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

Date of origin, Work history

vor dem 02. Juli 1723

First performance on July 2, 1723; subsequent performance around 1728–1731 (watermark, handwriting styles in autographed score from movement 7); further performance around 1735–1739 (autographed addition part Oboe d’amore). Further performance of movement 1 by W. F. Bach in 1752 in Halle (along with BWV 170/1) as components of the Pasticcio Cantata BR-WFB F 20. Only movement 1 is preserved from the single-movement Weimar Cantata for the 4th Advent under BWV² 147a (see printed text, without recitatives). Whether more movements existed is not certain (compare with notes, page XI)

Early performances

1723-02-07, Leipzig, St. Nicholas Church (Premiere) (Link to event)
EA fand im Frühgottesdienst der Nikolaikirche mit Predigt von Salomon Deyling, und am gleichen Tag im Vespergottesdienst der Thomaskirche statt, hier mit Predigt von Urban Gottfried Sieber.
WA um 1728—1731; WA um 1735—1739; WA von Satz 1 durch WFB 1752 in Halle

relation to other works:

is part of BWV diverse [1. Jg.]

Introduction to the work

Link to videos:

Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147 (Netherlands Bach Society)
Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147 (J. S. Bach-Stiftung St. Gallen)

Author Libretto

Franck, Salomon (1659–1725)

Libretto

Movement 1, 3, 5, and 7: S. Franck (see printed text); Movement 2, 4, and 8: Author unknown. Movement 6 and 10: Jesu, meiner Seelen Wonne (M. Jahn, 1661), stanzas 6 and 17. Printed text for the 4th Advent: Franck 1717, page 7 (only Movement 1, 3, 7, and 5; with minor variations as well as a different concluding choral (No. 6 “Dein Wort lass mich bekennen”))

Link to lyrics

Chorale