Angenehmes Wiederau, BWV 30a


Angenehmes Wiederau, freue dich in deinen Auen, BWV 30.1, is a 1737 secular cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach, on a libretto by Christian Friedrich Henrici. Bach reused some of its music in later works, including Freue dich, erlöste Schar, BWV 30.2, one of his church cantatas, which was nearly entirely modelled after the secular composition.

History and text

Angenehmes Wiederau was composed in Leipzig in 1737 by which time most of Bach's cantatas had already been completed. It was an homage to, who had acquired an estate at in Pegau near Leipzig. The work was performed on 28 September at Hennicke's.
The libretto of the cantata was written by Christian Friedrich Henrici, a frequent collaborator of the composer.

Scoring and structure

The piece is scored for basso continuo, along with four vocal soloists, alto as Glück, tenor as Elster, bass as Schicksal ) and four-part choir.
The cantata has thirteen movements:
  1. Chorus: Angenehmes Wiederau
  2. Recitative : So ziehen wir
  3. Aria : Willkommen im Heil, willkommen in Freuden
  4. Recitative : Da heute dir, gepriesner Hennicke
  5. Aria : Was die Seele kann ergötzen
  6. Recitative : Und wie ich jederzeit bedacht
  7. Aria : Ich will dich halten
  8. Recitative : Und obwohl sonst der Unbestand
  9. Aria : Eilt, ihr Stunden, wie ihr wollt
  10. Recitative : So recht! ihr seid mir werte Gäste
  11. Aria : So, wie ich die Tropfen zolle
  12. Recitative : Drum, angenehmes Wiederau
  13. Chorus: Angenehmes Wiederau

    Music

The eleventh movement, a tenor aria, is a reworking of a soprano aria from BWV 210. The other major movements were later reused in BWV 30.2, while the recitatives were newly composed.

Recordings