Friday, December 26, 2014

The Structure of the First Movement of Bach's Christmas Day Cantata, BWV 63

The particular musical structure of the first movement of Bach's Christmas Day Cantata, BWV 63, dictated how the photos were arranged in the DVD.

The musical layout of the first movement, an opening chorus for the cantata, can be displayed with these letters:  ABACABA.  This is known as a ritornello form (ritornello: Italian "little return"), where the ritornello (refrain), denoted by the "A" in the letter scheme, is returned to again three times in the movement.  The intervening letters, two "Bs" and a "C", are denoted as (choral) episodes.  In fact, the ritornello form in this movement is a palindrome, so we could call it a palindromic ritornello form.

Shown in another way:

A orchestral ritornello
B choral episode
A orchestral ritornello
C choral episode
A orchestral ritornello
B choral episode
A orchestral ritornello

The "B" choral episodes can be translated as: "Christians, carve this day in metal  and marble," while the longer "C" choral episode may be translated, "Hasten to the crib and show your gratitude and duty, for there you may see the light of dawn revealed as the radiance of grace."  (See Mincham for this translation and excellent further notes.)


Shown in yet another way:

A orchestral ritornello
B choral episode:       "Christians, carve this day in metal and marble."
A orchestral ritornello
C choral episode:       "Hasten to the crib and show your gratitude and duty,
                                    for there you may see the light of dawn
                                    revealed as the radiance of grace."
A orchestral ritornello
B choral episode:       "Christians, carve this day in metal and marble."
A orchestral ritornello


Shown in a less musically formal way:

A punchy orchestral refrain
B punchy choral refrain:      "Christians, carve this day in metal and marble."
A punchy orchestral refrain
C reflective choral episode:  "Hasten to the crib and show your gratitude and duty,
                                               for there you may see the light of dawn
                                               revealed as the radiance of grace."
A punchy orchestral refrain
B punchy choral refrain:      "Christians, carve this day in metal and marble."
A punchy orchestral refrain


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