Sunday Music: Bach Cantata BWV 30, Part 2
It is the third Sunday of Advent, and the title of today’s cantata is “Freue dich, erlöste Schar” (Rejoice, redeemed flock), Part 2. Last week we heard Part 1.
Today’s Gospel reading is John 1:6-8, 19-28
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
. . . .
Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”
They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing..
The text of today’s cantata is available here. It contains this passage:
The glory of your happiness,
the time of your contentment and peace
will never reach an end.
Happy listening!
[Cross-posted at RedState and The Jury Talks Back.]
Thanks again to Golden Eagle for the book suggestion that makes it possible to link the cantatas and the Gospel readings from the RCL.
Patterico (8c20ac) — 12/17/2017 @ 10:54 amRIP Keely Smith.
ropelight (c31a74) — 12/17/2017 @ 11:39 amThere will be a great reckoning because we have chosen to ignore his message will it be manifest like ninevehs fall.
narciso (d1f714) — 12/17/2017 @ 11:57 amKeely Smith’s?
Patterico (e3dec4) — 12/17/2017 @ 12:58 pmKeely Smith was married to Louis Prima (voice of King Louie in Disney’s Jungle Book and the writer of many swing songs like “Sing, Sing, Sing”). They performed together on many songs. IMHO, Louis was far more talented than his wife, but reasonable folk may differ 🙂
Chuck Bartowski (bc1c71) — 12/17/2017 @ 1:47 pmI would like to thank P for the lovely Sunday posts of beautiful music and inspiring texts which compel quiet reflection at the end of a long week. Stilling my heart and quietly leaning my thoughts toward heaven, these vastly underrated activities sadly get lost in the shuffle of busy lives. These posts remind me to make the time, for the good of my soul and for those around me.
Dana (023079) — 12/17/2017 @ 2:13 pmRIP Keely Smith.
Indeed. Steamy, sultry singer; quite fetching and popular back in the era of Julie London, Rosemary Clooney and so forth. Those days are long gone but the recordings live on. Among the more memorable moments mentioned by the late astronaut, Pete Conrad, during a visit to a North American facility out in Downey was being seated next to Smith at a dinner.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 12/17/2017 @ 3:49 pmwith the measure you use, it will be measured to you
Steve57 (0b1dac) — 12/17/2017 @ 11:46 pmGlad to help you out, Patterico. I’m enjoying the Bach.
Golden Eagle (172402) — 12/18/2017 @ 3:40 amAdeste Fideles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=l1wHyMR_SCA
Tis the season
Steve57 (0b1dac) — 12/18/2017 @ 4:44 amKeely Smith, a self-described ‘saloon singer and Los Vegas icon, began her career at age 15 in Norfolk, Virginia singing with the Navy band. Her pitch perfect tone attracted a range of admirers including Louis Prima and Frank Sinatra, and imitators Cher and David Lee Roth (I’m Just a Gigolo/I Ain’t Got Nobody).
Smith had a major hits with That Old Black Magic, her album – Keely Sings Sinatra, and her duet with Sinatra – How Are You Fixed For Love. She also appeared in several movies, most prominently opposit Robert Mitchum in Thunder Road.
ropelight (ae9a94) — 12/18/2017 @ 6:35 amhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GW8JUH141Ts
Japanese chick sings Joplin.
Steve57 (0b1dac) — 12/18/2017 @ 12:02 pm