A mighty fortress is our God
Cantata for Reformation Day. First Leipzig version by Klaus Hofmann BWV 80b (BWV3 80.2), 1728/31
The Reformation cantata A mighty fortress is our God BWV 80b, published by Carus-Verlag for the first time in a practical performing edition, remained unknown to Bach scholars until well into the 20th century. The evidence of its existence is three fragments of the first folio of Bach’s score, which can be dated to the years 1728-1731. By contrast, the long-familiar expanded new version of the cantata with its powerful opening chorus (BWV 80) dates from the 1730s or 1740s. It only survives in a copy of Bach’s score, but this allows conclusions to be drawn about the history of the versions; thus, by using the fragments mentioned above, it has been possible to reconstruct the first version.
This result is a Bach cantata which is less extensive and in a more concise “normal” format, with reduced wind instruments. A relaxed, contrapuntal four-part chorale movement with the first and last verses of the Lutheran hymn forms the framework, and the other movements are the same as in the later new version. This simpler cantata is also entirely suitable for celebrating Reformation Day, as Bach did around 1730.
This is a reconstruction of the earlier version of the Reformation Cantata (BWV3 80.2) without the large chorale chorus at the beginning. The later, better known Reformation cantata is available as Carus 31.080/00, while the first version of the cantata (BWV3 80.1, for Oculi Sunday 1716) is published as Carus 31.401/00.
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Digital text (without sheet music) incl. printing licence, html file, singing text, english translationhtml file, singing text, english translation (Sample)1. ChoralA mighty fortress is our God,
2. Aria (Soprano e Basso)
a stronghold never failing.
He helps us when with troubles fraught
and freely grants his caring.
The evil enemy,
attacks us with glee
his weapons are cruel,
treachery would rule,
on earth is none beside him.All those born of God are praising
3. Recitativo (Basso)
and in victory rejoicing.
With all our strength is nothing done,
for soon we are defeated.
For us the right defense has come,
whom God himself selected.
Those who by the blood of Christ
have been baptized, faith to swear him,
will for evermore be blest.
Who is this, you ask?
It is Jesus Christ,
the Lord of Sabaoth,
none other than our God.
He ever is victorious.
All those born of God are praising,
and in victory rejoicing.Consider now, believer, God’s great love unending.
As Jesus reconciled you with his blood through suff’ring,
and thereby has been sending you to victory against the world, all sinning
and death’s dark night.
Do not give room within you
to Satan and his evil might!
O heart,...
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Digital text (without sheet music) incl. printing licence, html file, singing text, originalhtml file, singing text, original (Sample)
1. Choral Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott,
ein gute Wehr und Waffen.
Er hilft uns frei aus aller Not,
die uns itzt hat betroffen.
Der alte böse Feind,
mit Ernst ers itzt meint;
groß Macht und viel List
sein grausam Rüstung ist,
auf Erd ist nicht seinsgleichen.2. Aria (Soprano e Basso) Alles, was von Gott geboren,
ist zum Siegen auserkoren.
Mit unser Macht ist nichts getan,
wir sind gar bald verloren.
Es streit’ vor uns der rechte Mann,
den Gott selbst hat erkoren.
Wer bei Christi Blutpanier
...
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Digital text (without sheet music) incl. printing licence, html file, Introductory text, englishhtml file, Introductory text, english (Sample)Foreword of the Edition Carus 31.080/50
Klaus Hofmann
Translation: David KosvinerJust like the later, newer version of the work (BWV 80), the reconstruction of the first Leipzig version of the cantata Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott (A mighty fortress is our God) BWV 80b – presented in the Carus edition for the first time – was intended for Reformation Day which was celebrated in Leipzig every year on 31 October to commemorate Martin Luther’s legendary Ninety-Five Theses which he posted in Wittenberg in 1517. Not only the subsequent new version, but even thefirst version of the Reformation Cantata was the result of an adaptation process. Its point of origin was the cantata Alles, was von Gott geboren (All that are born of God) BWV 80a, which Bach had composed in Weimar, probably in 1716, for the court church service on Oculi Sunday which fell on 15 March that year. Only the text of this cantata – taken from the annual cycle of poetry Evangelisches Andachts-Opffer by Salomon Franck (1659−1725) and printed in 1715 in Weimar – has survived. According to this, the cantata consisted of three arias alternating with two recitatives and the final chorale verse “Mit unser Macht ist nichts
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Digital text (without sheet music) incl. printing licence, html file, Introductory text, germanhtml file, Introductory text, german (Sample)Vorwort der Ausgabe Carus 31.080/50
Klaus Hofmann
Die bei Carus erstmals in Rekonstruktion vorgelegte erste Leipziger Fassung der Kantate Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott (BWV 80b) ist ebenso wie die seit langem bekannte spätere Neufassung des Werkes (BWV 80) für das Reformationsfest bestimmt, das in Leipzig alljährlich am 31. Oktober im Gedenken an Martin Luthers legendären Wittenberger Thesenanschlag des Jahres 1517 gefeiert wurde. Nicht nur die nachmalige Neufassung, auch schon die erste Version der Reformationskantate war das Ergebnis eines Bearbeitungsprozesses. Dessen Ausgangspunkt bildete die Kantate Alles, was von Gott geboren (BWV 80a), die Bach in Weimar wahrscheinlich 1716 für den Hofgottesdienst am Sonntag Oculi, dem 15. März des Jahres, geschaffen hatte. Von dieser Kantate ist nur noch der Text aus der 1715 in Weimar gedruckten Jahrgangsdichtung Evangelisches Andachts-Opffer von Salomon Franck (1659−1725) erhalten. Danach umfasste die Kantate drei Arien im Wechsel mit zwei Rezitativen und die Schlusschoralstrophe „Mit unser Macht ist nichts getan“ aus Luthers wohlbekanntem Kirchenlied Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott.
Da in Leipzig in den Gottesdiensten der
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Additional product information
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Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach
| 1685-1750Johann Sebastian Bach is one of the most important composers of Western music history. He came from a widely ramified musical dynasty, which produced numerous musicians and organists in the Thuringian-Saxon area.
Bach vocal
Ever since Carus-Verlag was founded in 1972, publishing the music of Johann Sebastian Bach has been a special focus for us. In the 2017 Reformation anniversary year we completed the Bach vocal project. Bach's complete sacred vocal works are now available in modern Urtext editions, together with performance material. A complete edition of all the full scores is also available in a high quality box set. Personal details
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Editor
Klaus Hofmann
| 1939
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Songwriter / Librettist
Salomon Franck
| 1659-1725
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Songwriter / Librettist
Martin Luther
| 1483-1546
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Translator
Jutta Wicker
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