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The Magnificat in D major, BWV 243, is a setting of the Magnificat text by Johann Sebastian Bach for five soloists, a five-part choir and orchestra. Bach first composed a version, the Magnificat in E-flat major, BWV 243a, for Visitation and Christmas in 1723 and then reworked that music in D major in 1733 for Visitation. The Latin text is the canticle of Mary, mother of Jesus, as told in the Gospel of Luke.

Scoring and structure

The work is divided into twelve movements which can be grouped into three sections, each beginning with an aria and completed by the choir in a fugal chorus. Its performance lasts approximately thirty minutes. The indented parts below indicate the removed Christmas texts.

It is scored for five soloists, soprano I/II, alto, tenor, bass, a five-part choir, three trumpets, timpani, flauto traverso, two oboes (also oboe d'amore), two violins, viola, and basso continuo. It is one of few works which Bach set for a five-part choir, along with the the motet Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227 and the Missa (Kyrie and Gloria), also of 1733, which he later expanded to form the Mass in B minor.

1. Chorus – "Magnificat"
2. Aria (soprano II) – "Et exsultavit spiritus meus"
3. Aria (soprano I) – "Quia respexit humilitatem"
4. Chorus – "Omnes generationes"
5. Aria (bass) – "Quia fecit mihi magna"
6. Aria (alto, tenor) – "Et misericordia"
7. Chorus – "Fecit potentiam"
8. Aria (tenor) – "Deposuit potentes"
9. Aria (alto) – "Esurientes implevit bonis"
10. Aria (soprano I/II, alto) – "Suscepit Israel"
11. Chorus – "Sicut locutus est"
12. Chorus – "Gloria Patri"

History

Bach composed the setting of the Latin text of the Magnificat in 1723 in his first year as Thomaskantor in Leipzig a version in E-flat major in 1723 for the Marian feast of the Visitation, which was celebrated on 2 July in Leipzig at Bach's time. Later that year he used it again for the Christmas Vespers, with additional interpolated texts related to Christmas. In 1733, he adapted it for a new version in D major without the Christmas additions, again for Visitation. The second version had its premiere at the Thomaskirche on 2 July 1733, which coincided with the fourth Sunday after Trinity Sunday that year.

Selected recordings

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (September 2014)

• Brilliant Classics 99376/6: Lynda Russell, Gillian Fisher, Alison Browner, Caroline Trevor, Ian Partridge, Michael George, The Sixteen Choir & Orchestra, Harry Christophers

References

1. ^ Jones, Richard D. P. (2013). The Creative Development of Johann Sebastian Bach, Volume II: 1717-1750: Music to Delight the Spirit. Oxford University Press. pp. 131–136. ISBN 0-19-969628-4.

External links

• Free scores by Magnificat in D major at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)
• Magnificat in D major BWV 243 / Magnificat in E flat major BWV 243a from bach-cantatas.com
• Magnificat (MIDI) from impresario.ch, with practice files for choristers
• Keep it Short: J S Bach Magnificat, a 2011 Gresham College lecture by Christopher Hogwood
• Magnificat – Omnes generationes – number symbolism (YouTube video)

• Compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach
• 1733 compositions
• Magnificat settings
• Compositions in D major