- Source: Die Freude reget sich, BWV 36b
- Die Freude reget sich, BWV 36b
- Freude
- Schwingt freudig euch empor, BWV 36
- List of compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach
- Die Zeit, die Tag und Jahre macht, BWV 134a
- Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis
- Paulinerkirche, Leipzig
- List of Bach cantatas
- List of secular cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach
- Reconstruction of music by Johann Sebastian Bach
Die Freude reget sich (Joy awakens), BWV 36.3, BWV 36b), is a secular cantata composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. The work appears to date from 1738–1740, when Bach was living in Leipzig. Bach drew on material he had composed more than a decade earlier for the cantata Schwingt freudig euch empor, BWV 36.1.
History and text
Bach wrote several works for celebrations of the Leipzig University, Festmusiken zu Leipziger Universitätsfeiern. The text pays homage to Johann Florenz Rivinius, who was appointed Rector of Leipzig University in October 1735, and the cantata was likely written for his ceremonial appointment as the highest-ranking professor of the Faculty of Law at the University of Leipzig in May 1739.
In 1727 Christian Friedrich Henrici (Picander) had published an earlier version of the text, the birthday cantata Steigt freudig in die Luft, BWW 36a, which was also set by Bach. Picander was probably the author of the adaptation for the university celebration.
Scoring and structure
The cantata is scored for four soloists, soprano, alto, tenor and bass, a four-part choir, flauto traverso, two oboes d'amore, two violins, viola and basso continuo.
Chorus: Die Freude reget sich
Recitative (tenor): Ihr seht, wie sich das Glücke
Aria (tenor): Aus Gottes milden Vaterhänden
Recitative (alto): Die Freunde sind vergnügt
Aria (alto): Das Gute, das dein Gott beschert
Recitative (soprano): Wenn sich die Welt mit deinem Ruhme trägt
Aria (soprano): Auch mit gedämpften, schwachen Stimmen
Chorus and recitative (tenor, alto, soprano): Was wir dir vor Glücke gönnen
Music
As in BWV 36.1, the first movement is cheerful in nature, and the tenor aria includes a significant oboe d'amore line. The final movement is a "jolly chorus with interpolated recitative".
There are also related sacred cantatas, two versions of the church cantata for the First Sunday in Advent, Schwingt freudig euch empor, BWV 36.
The cantata is unusual in being a secular work which was parodied as a sacred work and then, some five years later again as a secular work. Bach's parodies are usually secular to sacred rather than sacred to secular. The explanation given for the prevalence of secular to sacred parodies is that occasional secular works such as birthday cantatas had a single use and then Bach was able to reuse them as sacred works.
Recordings
Bach Kantaten, Wolfgang Unger, Leipziger Universitätschor, Pauliner Barockensemble, Linda Perillo, Matthias Koch, Nils Giesecke, Thorofon
Edition Bachakademie Vol. 139 – Congratulatory and Hommage Cantatas, Helmuth Rilling, Gächinger Kantorei, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Christiane Oelze, Ingeborg Danz, Marcus Ullmann, Hänssler
References
Sources
Scores
Die Freude reget sich, BWV 36b: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
General
Cantata BWV 36b Die Freude reget sich history, scoring, sources for text and music, translations to various languages, discography, discussion, Bach Cantatas Website
BWV 36b Die Freude reget sich English translation, University of Vermont
BWV 36b Die Freude reget sich text, scoring, University of Alberta