Sunday Music: Bach’s Magnificat, BWV 243
It is the fourth Sunday of Advent. Today’s Bach piece is a concert performance of one of Bach’s most popular choral works: his setting of the Latin “Magnificat.”
Today’s Gospel reading is Luke 1:39-45, (46-55):
Mary Visits Elizabeth
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Mary’s Song
And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
The text of today’s piece is available here. It is the Latin setting of Mary’s song quoted above: the “Magnificat.” It opens with the Latin sentence: “Magnificat anima mea Dominum.” This translates as the first sentence of Mary’s song: “My soul magnifies the Lord.” After the end of Mary’s song, Bach’s setting closes with these words:
Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto,
sicut erat in principio
et nunc et in saecula saeculorum,
Amen.
Which translates as:
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and for ever and ever,
Amen.
Happy listening! Soli Deo gloria.
[Cross-posted at The Jury Talks Back.]
it doesn’t feel like sunday but hark the heralds anyway i say
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/23/2018 @ 7:01 amDon’t have time to find a Youtube for you, but Bach’s original version was for Christmas, and included two German Christmas carols and two Latin hymns
Kishnevi (78c1a3) — 12/23/2018 @ 7:14 amhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnificat_in_E-flat_major,_BWV_243a
With all the hateful comments I see here and elsewhere, thank you for this bit of beauty each week.
Simon Jester (7df1c6) — 12/23/2018 @ 7:44 amAshley Snowcream’s Christmas was shaping up to be a real downer.
There were comments on her blog that were … less than pleasant, and to make matters worse her new puppy Reginald was pooping everywhere! (metaphor puppy)
Nevertheless, Ashley was determined to make it through the season. But little did she know that a handsome stranger and a mysterious package would put her on a path to the most magical Christmas ever!!
A COMMENT ON CHRISTMAS: A HALLMARK INSTA-CLASSIC!
happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/23/2018 @ 8:30 amThank you patterico.
Narciso (d1f714) — 12/23/2018 @ 1:58 pminteresting notes our pastor observed about the truth of the incarnation, the birth didn’t occur in a stable, the date was not assuredly December 31st, the wisemen were probably not three, the star did not hover all the time over the nativity scene, or else herod might well had his many target that abode and likely there was not an innkeeper, but the owner of a guest room, but the fundamental truth of what that event signals is clear,
narciso (d1f714) — 12/23/2018 @ 4:47 pmI visited your site 1 day ago. On this site are very interesting posts. On break between work I read and listen this posts. I relax reading and listening to these posts.
Veronica (cae3f8) — 12/27/2018 @ 2:28 amI was singing with them! Such a beautiful music. I really like it.
Smith (d5e5c2) — 1/14/2019 @ 5:05 am