Heart and mouth and thought and action
Cantata for the 4th Sunday in Advent. Reconstruction Uwe Wolf BWV 147a, 1716
The cantata Heart and mouth and thought and action, BWV 147, for the Feast of the Visitation (2 July) in 1723, belongs to a group of three Weimar Advent cantatas, namely BWV 70, 147, and 186, which Bach reinterpreted textually by adding recitatives not included in the original works while simultaneously expanding them into two parts (performed before and after the sermon). Both parts have a concluding chorale, of which the one from BWV 147 has become a hit in its own right: “Jesus bleibet meine Freude” (Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring).
The cantata has a complicated history, for it seems that Bach ran out of time on two occasions. The Weimar fair copy score contains only the first movement (which was integrated into the Leipzig score), while the Leipzig fair copy of 1723 also breaks off abruptly, and was only completed later (the parts were based on composing drafts, which have not survived). Thus the version of 1723, which serves as the basis for our edition for the first time, differs in a number of details from the later fair copy. However, Bach did not transfer the fair copy version into individual parts and probably never heard it performed.
This is the Weimar Advent Cantata (BWV2 147a, BWV3 deest) without the famous chorale “Jesus bleibet meine Freude” (Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring). The later, better known Leipzig cantata for the Feast of the Visitation of Mary (BWV 147) is available under the number Carus 31.147/50.
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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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Songwriter / Librettist
Salomon Franck
| 1659-1725
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Arranger
Uwe Wolf
| 1961As a musicologist, Dr. Uwe Wolf is particularly at home in the 17th and 18th centuries. The focus of his work ranges from the time of Monteverdi and Schütz to Bach and the generation of Bach's sons and pupils through to Viennese Classicism. He has been head of the editorial department at Carus-Verlag since October 2011. Prior to this, he worked in Bach research for over 20 years. Personal details
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Translator
Henry Drinker