Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)

“Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland [I]”

(Now come, saviour of the gentiles)

BWV 61


Event:
Chorale Cantata for the 1st Sunday in Advent

Readings:
Epistle: Romans 13: 11-14; Gospel: Matthew 21: 1-9

Composed:
Weimar, 1714

1st performance:
December 2, 1714 – Weimar

2nd performance:
November 28, 1723 - Leipzig

Text:
Martin Luther (Mvt. 1)
Erdmann Neumeister (Mvts. 2-3, 5)
Revelation 3:20 (Mvt. 4)
Philipp Nicolai (Mvt. 6)

Scoring:
Soloists: Soprano, Tenor, Bass; 4-part Chorus
Orchestra: 2 violins, viola, continuo


Mvt. 1: Chorus – Overture (00:00)
Mvt. 2: Recitative (02:46)
Mvt. 3: Aria (04:06)
Mvt. 4: Recitative (08:15)
Mvt. 5: Aria (09:14)
Mvt. 6: Chorale (12:40)


Soprano: Ingrid Schmithüsen
Tenor: Makoto Sakurada
Bass: Peter Kooy

Bach Collegium Japan

Masaaki Suzuki

Jul 1997, at the Kobe Shoin Women's University Chapel, Japan.