Most of Johannes Sebastian Bach’s secular cantatas were written for specific political, academic or private festive occasions. In the case of Geschwinde, ihr wirbelnden Winde, BWV 201, however, it may well be that Bach composed it for his own sake: the message conveyed in the work can be interpreted as a defence of Bach’s own artistry and musical attitudes against the trend of the time towards easier fare. Subtitling the cantata ‘dramma per musica’, Bach sets an episode from Greek mythology in which Phoebus (Apollo) and Pan enter into a musical contest. Phoebus, the god of the arts, presents a beautifully balanced and technically accomplished aria, while Pan sings a rustic dance tune. The judges offer Phoebus the prize, but the verdict isn’t unanimous – King Midas prefers Pan’s catchy ditty, for which Phoebus punishes him by giving him donkey ears. On this amply-filled disc Bach’s praise of high art is followed by another tribute, now to Augustus III, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland. It is likely that Augustus never knew that the same music had been used 10 years earlier to congratulate a Leipzig academic on his promotion: Auf, schmetternde Töne… BWV 207a is based almost entirely on Vereinigte Zwietracht der wechselnden Saiten, BWV 207. But Bach was something of the recycler’s recycler, and already BWV 207 included music from the First Brandenburg Concerto, with a choir added to the forces, and trumpets and timpani replacing the horns.
Geschwinde, Ihr Wirbelnden Winde, BWV201 - Dramma Per Musica. Der Streit Zwischen Phoebus Und Pan
Text By – Christian Friedrich Henrici
(47:32)
1 1. Chorus. Geschwinde, Ihr Wirbelnden Winde… 5:34
2 2. Recitativo (Basso I, Basso II, Soprano). Und Du Bist Doch So Unverschämt Und Frei… 1:41
3 3. Aria (Soprano). Patron, Das Macht Der Wind… 2:31
4 4. Recitativo (Alto, Basso I, Basso II). Was Braucht Ihr Euch Zu Zanken… 0:53
5 5. Aria (Basso I). Mit Verlangen Drück Ich Deine Zarten Wangen… 9:00
6 6. Recitativo (Soprano, Basso II). Pan, Rücke Deine Kehle Nun… 0:20
7 7. Aria (Basso II). Zu Tanze, Zu Sprunge, So Wackelt Sas Herz… 5:23
8 8. Recitativo (Alto, Tenore I). Nunmehro Richter Her… 0:45
9 9. Aria (Tenore I). Phoebus, Deine Melodei… 5:50
10 10. Recitativo (Basso II, Tenore II). Komm, Midas, Sage Du Nun An… 0:41
11 11. Aria (Tenore II). Pan Ist Meister, Lasst Ihn Gehen!… 4:41
12 12. Recitativo (Soprano, Alto, Tenore I, Basso I, Tenore II, Basso II). Wie, Midas, Bist Du Toll?… 1:04
13 13. Aria (Alto). Aufgeblasne Hitze… 5:39
14 14. Recitativo (Soprano). Du Guter Midas, Geh Nun Hin… 1:05
15 15. Chorus. Labt Das Herz, Ihr Holden Saiten… 2:21
Auf, Schmetternde Töne Der Muntern Trompeten, BWV207a - Dramma Per Musica. Glückwunschkantate Zum Namenstage Augusts III (Uraufführung: 03.08.1735)
Text By – Unknown Artist
(32:30)
16 1. Chorus. Auf, Schmetternde Töne Der Muntern Trompeten… 4:38
17 2. Recitativo (Tenore). Die Stille Pleiße Spielt… 1:58
18 3. Aria (Tenore). Augustus’ Namenstages Schimmer… 3:22
19 4. Recitativo (Soprano, Basso). Augustus’ Wohl Ist Der Treuen Sachsen Wohlergehn… 2:00
20 5. Aria: Duetto (Basso, Soprano). Mich Kann Sie Süße Ruhe Laben… / 5a. Ritornello 6:21
21 6. Recitativo (Alto). Augustus Schützt Die Frohen Felder… 0:53
22 7. Aria (Alto). Preiset, Späte Folgezeiten… 5:25
23 8. Recitativo (Tenore, Basso, Soprano, Alto). Ihr Fröhlichen, Herbei!… 2:46
24 9. Chorus. August Lebe, Lebe, König!… 3:34
25 10. Anhang: Marche 1:25
