Bach, J S: Cantata BWV43 'Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen'

Recorded in the City of London in 2012, this album features the missing cantatas from the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage: the Ascension Cantatas.

They were recorded live at St Giles Cripplegate (one of the original Pilgrimage venues) in two concerts entirely funded by the generosity of hundreds of donors across the world, following a heartfelt appeal from British comedian Alexander Armstrong.

The quartet of soloists include one of the original Pilgrimage soloists, bass Dietrich Henschel, alongside a new generation of Bach interpreters who have worked with the ensembles since 2000 – making this recording a “bridge” between a Bach tradition started 13 years ago and today.

The Ascension Oratorio “Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen” (BWV11) is a heart-warming, uplifting work. Beginning and ending with two grand festive choruses, it is full of rhythmic swagger, jazz-like nonchalance, stratospheric glitter for the high trumpet and vocal acrobatics for the choir.

“Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen” (BWV43) opens with a glorious, unconventional introduction with high trumpets and drums, and continues with a sequence reminiscent of the opera seria of its time. “Wer da gläubet und getauft wird” (BWV37) focuses on the words of Jesus to his followers and starts with a gentle chorus of choir and orchestra of strings and oboe d’amore. “Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein” (BWV128) features festive opening and closing movements celebrating Christ’s majesty.

SDG185 is packaged in SDG’s usual high-quality book-case. It contains a 32-page booklet with original notes by Sir John Eliot Gardiner, and sung texts in German and English.

The two cantatas BWV 146 and 43 were composed for Jubilate Sunday and for Ascension Day respectively, both of them joyous occasions celebrating Christ’s resurrection and subsequent ascension into heaven.

Ascension Day belongs to the most prominent feasts related to the life of Christ and therefore required special musical consideration in Bach’s time. “Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen“ BWV 11, entitled by Bach „Oratorium Festo Ascensionis Christi“, was first performed on May 19, 1735, whilst “Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen“ BWV 43 first appeared on the 30th of May 1726. The text of this cantata was taken from a cycle of sacred poetry by Ernst Ludwig, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. The cantata “Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein“ BWV 128 was first performed on 10 May 1725. “Wer da gläubet und getauft wird“ BWV 37 was premiered on 18 May 1724.

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