Introduction
In 1724, Johann Sebastian Bach composed a widely acclaimed cantata for Christmas day celebrations. It contained a narrative of words that praised Jesus Christ, and was supported by instrumentals and vocal codes. The cantata is a follow up on the famous hymn by Martin Luther, ‘Praise is to you, Jesus Christ ‘, and that was composed in 1524. The composition was inspired from readings that are located in the bible such as the Gospel of Luke, the book of Isaiah and Titus, which contained readings about the birth and salvation of Jesus Christ.
The composition
The narration uses aspects of repetition in its structure. The choruses of the main words, which signify the praise afforded to Jesus, are repeated for emphasis. It is divided into an opening chorus that praises the birth of Jesus Christ. Thereafter, it is followed by a recitative where the lead narrator recites a set of words and is echoed by the supporting choir. The choir echoes words such as ‘the external father’s only child’ and the narrator continues to recite the pursuant words. It is then followed by an Aria, which emphasizes some phrases in the opening chorus. It is then repeated with another recitative, although different from the first one, an Aria, and is finished with a chorale. The chorale ends on a high note, with gratitude over the favor the Messiah did for humanity. The chorale, being the last verse, is a short reflection for what the cantata is about. The composition is about making the audience aware of the sacrifice the lord made, and the salvation brought to mankind. Therefore, the chorale ends by thanking him and summarizing the whole narrative in a show of gratitude. There was then a repetition of the first verse in the last part, being the chorale, which is a four sentence composition. In total, there are six main parts to the cantata.
The composition is indeed danceable. It included aspects of music that provided for a rhythmic flow of words and the instruments would give it a touch of having an entertaining quality. The opening chorus involves all the four voices. There is an element of soprano, bass, alto and tenor. They are supported by a number of instruments, mainly the orchestra and the violin. The cello backs up the sopranos in other parts of the composition. There is also the use of the bass and trumpet which bring about a musical feel and provide a ton of excitement to the cantata. The four voices are strategically assigned to create a musical effect in the composition. They all start in a mashed way that is meant to draw the attention of the audience. The recitative is done by the sopranos who are echoed by the other voices. The effect is a tune that is smooth and easy to follow. The sopranos, in addition, finish up with the last stanza, which is the chorale. All this while, there is the use of the violin that rhymes with the soprano voices. There is a hint of cello in the background. The other instruments are used when the three remaining voices join in, resulting in a beautiful pattern. The soloists in the composition are used in the opening lines of the recitals. The effects of the considerable and careful assignment of the voices are to create a musical sound to the composition, albeit embracing their differences. The Bach cantata #91 has been performed by ballet dancers all over the world during Christmas and in plays. It has been used in Christmas setups in plays and has been performed in dance. Even so, the music it has created is limiting to all kinds of dance and can be mostly performed by bullets, which were done in the old days and have been incorporated in contemporary dance.
The lines in the cantata are short and precise. They are marked by the use of specific words to highlight certain points and to match the tone of the singers. The lines are appropriate for a dialogue setup, in which a soloist poses a question and the rest answer as if to tell a story. The lines create a musical story that depicts a particular tone for every line. For instance, the soloist would pose the question, “and wasn’t this cursed, damned, lost?” that would trigger a response, “the eternal good is clothed”. In such a manner, the lines create a conversation that can be sung, which creates a dynamic feel to the composition. After a dialogue engagement with each other, the singers then join in and sing the chorus together. The arrangement of the lines in each chorale and Aria is dynamic. Each has a unique set of characteristics but come together to showcase uniformity in the passing of the message. They are, in addition, unified by a repetition of words that tend to stress some points. For instance, the word eternal has been used severally in the lines to showcase the nature of God’s love. The lines used exclamation phrases at the beginning of specific choruses, which were meant to be narrated in a similar fashion. We can draw such an illustration from the second recitative starts with the expression of “O Christianity” and immediately draws the attention of the audience. The dynamism is showcased in the nature of the lines, which talk about the different attributes of God and the praises awarded to him. In addition, the lines help in the reflection of the different ideas that form the views about the birth of Christ. It helps to reduce the monotony and creates a rhythm that is established when the composition is narrated.
The melody in the composition is achieved through the voices in the composition. The sopranos especially create a certain musical tone to the composition, which can then be identified as a musical narration. Even in the dialogues, the people narrating do so in their respective assigned voices. The composition, therefore, is not just about talking or exchanging words. The dialogues are guided by the musical notes exhibited through the instruments. They are meant to guide the soloist or narrator on how or where they should raise their voice or lower their tempo. The narrator, therefore, tells the story in rhythm with the instrumental effects, achieving the needed melody for the composition. The rest of the singers are also guided by the instruments to know how they should project their voices in the answers they give. In addition, a certain tone is given to the repeated words to show emphasis. Melody, in this case, is achieved through the tone used by the people involved in the narration. The arrangement of the words in the cantata help the audience to feel the nature of the melody created. There are some instances where the reciter sets a high tempo, and there are those when it is slow, creating a smooth sweet melody.
The melody running throughout the composition is highlighted through the evident dynamism, which creates different types of melodies. The melodies are different to stress a variety of points and create specific moods for the audience. For example, the beginning of the beginning of the second recital starts with a triumphant melody, captured through an exclamatory tone from the soloist. The mood set is joyous, to celebrate the birth of the mighty son of God. In other instances, the melody was slow. The first Aria starts off on a somber mood. It explains the poverty undergone by God to make mankind comfortable. In such case, the melody creates sadness in the audience. The sadness is meant to make the audience reflect on the generosity of God. The stanza is about the sacrifice of God, which makes the audience feel his plight. It, therefore, creates a mood that is essential for reflection from the audience. Such parts are achieved through the use of a slow rhythmic melody, both from the narrators and the instrumentals. The mood changes rapidly in the last stanza which is influenced by a joyous and fast melody. It was achieved through the use of trumpets and horns. Rhythm also creates a musical melody for the composition. Rhythm in the case was most achieved through repetition and emphasis of words.
The excitement in the Bach cantata # 91 is very evident. The tempo sets about an excitement that the holiday season brings. The tempo helps the writer to achieve a memory of the melodic rhythm in the lines. The change in the expressions in the chorale is guided by a set of words delivered in specific respectful tones. Such tone makes it easy for the audience to grasp and memorize the concepts that the composition sought to achieve. The choice of words helps to stress points that make the composition memorable. The writer chose contrasting words for a reason. He used words such human nature to contrast the universally accepted supernatural nature of God. Such concepts are quite memorable. Such sentiments are used by singers in a voice that is filled with curiosity. The ultimate goal in the composition of the cantata is to move the audience in the recital and take them through an emotional journey they can remember. The audience was supposed to move with the narrators and achieve the same emotional balance that they possess. Such factors make the composition memorable, and the audience can carry the performance with them until the next December. In addition, the musical instruments create the effect that is needed for the melodies in the lines, which makes it vivid, thus memorable. Furthermore, the Aria is a duet between two voices that combine to make the performance memorable. The soprano and alto voices carry the weight of the words stipulated in the Aria in a slow melody that is brought to life by the violin. It creates a realism effect on the audience, who can relate to the circumstances, thus making it memorable.
Conclusion
The Bach cantata #91 is not just a set of words, but a poetically infused song. It carries all the elements needed to make a perfect rhythm and captivate its audience. Bach is responsible for a number of Christmas cantatas that have been carried through history. To date, the world and especially Italian people celebrate Christmas with the works of Bach, which have incorporated a modern approach and different versions.
