Meine Seel erhebt den Herren

"Meine Seel erhebt den Herren" ("My soul magnifies the Lord"), BWV 10, is a cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach.

It was written in Leipzig for the Feast of the Visitation of Mary, and was first performed on 2 July, 1724. Large sections of the text are taken from the Magnificat, , and the recurring tune is that of the hymn associated with the Magnificat.

The piece is written for two oboes, trumpet, strings (violins, violas and basso continuo), vocal soloists and choir. It is in seven movements, in G minor unless otherwise noted:

#Chorus: "Meine Seel erhebt den Herren" - a gapped chorale setting of the hymn tune. The altos, tenors and basses sing free counterpoint, while the soprano sings the hymn tune unadorned in long notes. About halfway through the movement, the sopranos and altos switch roles (i.e., the altos begin singing the tune).
#Aria: "Herr, der du stark und mächtig bist" ("Lord, you who are strong and mighty") - for soprano, oboes, strings and continuo (B-flat major).
#Recitative: "Des Höchsten Güt und Treu" ("The goodness and love of the Highest") - for tenor and continuo (G minor modulating to D minor).
#Aria: "Gewaltige stößt Gott vom Stuhl" ("The mighty God casts from their thrones") - for bass voice and continuo (F major).
#Duet: "Er denket der Barmherzigkeit" ("He remembers his mercy") - for alto, tenor, oboes, trumpet, and continuo (D minor). The oboes and trumpets play only the hymn tune in long notes.
#Recitative: "Was Gott den Vätern alter Zeiten" ("What God, in times past, to our forefathers") - for tenor, strings and continuo.
#Chorale: "Lob und Preis sei Gott dem Vater" ("Honor and glory be to God the Father") - the last verse of the chorale, sung and played by the whole ensemble.

Media

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBzsRt4dOb8 Cantata 10] on youtube (Ton Koopman).

External links

*
* [http://www.bach-cantatas.com/IndexScores.htm Vocal score of the piece]
* [http://www.emmanuelmusic.org/notes_trans/transl_cantata/bwv010.htm German text with an English translation]
* [http://www.bach-cantatas.com/BWV10-D.htm Various comments on the piece]
* [http://www.emmanuelmusic.org/notes_trans/notes_cantata/bwv010.htm Programme notes by Craig Smith]