The Easter Oratorio (BWV 249) is an oratorio by Johann
Sebastian Bach, beginning with Kommt, eilet und laufet
("Come, hasten and run"). Bach composed it in Leipzig
and first performed it on 1 April 1725.
The first version of the work was completed as a
cantata for Easter Sunday in Leipzig on 1 April 1725,
then under the title Kommt, gehet und eilet. It was
named "oratorio" and given the new title only in a
version revised in 1735. In a later version in the
1740s the third movement was e...(+)
The Easter Oratorio (BWV 249) is an oratorio by Johann
Sebastian Bach, beginning with Kommt, eilet und laufet
("Come, hasten and run"). Bach composed it in Leipzig
and first performed it on 1 April 1725.
The first version of the work was completed as a
cantata for Easter Sunday in Leipzig on 1 April 1725,
then under the title Kommt, gehet und eilet. It was
named "oratorio" and given the new title only in a
version revised in 1735. In a later version in the
1740s the third movement was expanded from a duet to a
four-part chorus. The work is based on a secular
cantata, the so-called Shepherd Cantata Entfliehet,
verschwindet, entweichet, ihr Sorgen, BWV 249a which is
now lost, although the libretto survives. Its author is
Picander who is also likely the author of the
oratorio's text. The work is opened by two instrumental
movements that are probably taken from a concerto of
the Köthen period. It seems possible that the third
movement is based on the concerto's finale.
Unlike the Christmas Oratorio, the Easter Oratorio has
no narrator but has four characters assigned to the
four voice parts: Simon Peter (tenor) and John the
Apostle (bass), appearing in the first duet hurrying to
Jesus' grave and finding it empty, meeting there Mary
Magdalene (alto) and "the other Mary", Mary Jacobe
(soprano). The choir was present only in the final
movement until a later performance in the 1740s when
the opening duet was set partly for four voices. The
music is festively scored for three trumpets, timpani,
two oboes, oboe d'amore, bassoon, two recorders,
transverse flute, two violins, viola and continuo.
Source: Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Oratorio).
I created this arrangement of the Aria: "Sanfte soll
mein Todeskummer" (Gentle shall my death-throes be) for
Wind Quintet (Flute, Oboe, Bb Clarinet, French Horn &
Bassoon).
