Bach: Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele, BWV 143

Description

Little is known about the genesis of "Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele" (Praise thou the Lord, o my spirit). A transcription from the 19th century was for a long time considered the only source; the musical text of the "New Bach Edition" was based on this material. Recently however a copy of the score from 1762 has become available. It offers a more reliable musical text, rendering a complete revision of the cantata necessary. On the basis of this new source, the work is presented here as part of the "New Bach Edition – Revised" in what is presumably its original form in C major with three trumpets. This orchestration is more typical of Bach's writing than the version for three horns in the surviving B-flat major version.