Cantata No. 80, Ein fest Burg ist unser Gott

Question 1

Cantata No. 80 name

Answer 1

Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott

Question 2

Cantata No. 80 background information

Answer 2

• cantata
• Johann Sebastian Bach
• first performance: 1715
• revised: ca 1744
• basis: choral by Martin Luther (used in mvts 1, 2, 5, 8)
• librettist: Salomo Franck
• German
• title Translation: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
• 8 mvts
• SATB soloists, SATB chorus, strings, continuo, and pairs of oboes trumpets and drums added by Wilhelm Friedemann Bach)

Question 3

Cantata No. 80 essay sections

Answer 3

• Original Chorale Melody
• First Movement (Choral Fugue)
• Second Movement (Duet for Soprano and Bass)
• Fifth Movement (Chorale for Unison Chorus)
• Eight Movements (Chorale)

Question 4

Cantata No. 80 First Movement (Chorale Fugue)

Answer 4

• D major
• C (meter)
• (Allegro) Bach provided no tempo markings
• each phrase of chorale presented using procedure similar to fugal exposition
• opening tenor melody: embellished version of the original chorale
• brief interludes: connect each fugual exposition; canon and augmentation featured
• when 2nd and 4th phrases are presented, phrases 1 and 3 act as countersubjects; create ornate and majestic musical fortress
• word painting: chromatic dissonance on words “dreadful plans”

Question 5

Cantata No. 80 Second Movement (Duet for Soprano and Bass)

Answer 5

• D major
• C (meter)
• (Allegro)
• soprano and bass soloists, oboe, violins, violas, continuo
• bass: begins w/ florid countermelody featuring long melismas
• unison strings: agitated sixteenth-note figures throughout
• oboe and soprano: decorated versions of chorale

Question 6

Cantata No. 80 Fifth Movement (Chorale for Unison Chorus)

Answer 6

• D major
• 6/8 (meter)
• (Allegro)
• strings and oboes: in unison, melodic figure based on opening of chorale melody, now in compound time
• trumpets (Added by Wilhelm Friedemann) created grand effect)
• all 3 types of oboes used (oboe da caccia, oboe d’amore, taille)

Question 7

Cantata No. 80 Eighth Movement (Chorale)

Answer 7

• D major
• C (meter)
• (moderato)
• SATB chorus, oboes, strings, and continuo
• Luther’s melody presented in original form by sopranos w/ support from altos, tenors, and basses
• instruments of orchestra double vocal parts

Question 8

Cantata No. 80 Original Chorale Melody

Answer 8

• consists of 9 phrases, including repeat of first 2
• 1st and 3rd phrases same
• 2nd and 4th phrases same
• mostly by step: facilitate congregational singing