Uploaded April 2013 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
The Magnificat in D major is a setting of the Magnificat text by Johann Sebastian Bach for five soloists, a five-part choir and orchestra. Bach first composed a version in E-flat major, (catalogued as BWV 243a) for Christmas in 1723 and then reworked that music in D major in 1733 (catalogued as BWV 243) for the feast of the Visitation. The Latin text is the canticle of Mary, mother of Jesus, as told in the Gospel of Luke.
Scoring and structure
The work is divided into twelve movements which can be grouped into three sections, each beginning with an aria and completed by the choir in a fugal chorus. Its performance lasts approximately thirty minutes. The indented parts below indicate the removed Christmas texts.
It is scored for five soloists, soprano I/II, alto, tenor, bass, a five-part choir, three trumpets, timpani, flauto traverso, two oboes (also oboe d'amore), two violins, viola, and basso continuo. It is one of few works which Bach set for a five-part choir,[citation needed] along with the Kyrie and Gloria, also of 1733, which he later expanded to form the Mass in B minor, and the motet Jesu, meine Freude.
Coro — "Magnificat"
Aria (soprano II) — "Et exsultavit spiritus meus"
A. Chorale motet — "Vom Himmel hoch"
Aria (soprano I) — "Quia respexit humilitatem"
Coro — "Omnes generationes"
Aria (bass) — "Quia fecit mihi magna"
B. Coro — "Freut euch und jubiliert"
Aria (alto, tenor) — "Et misericordia"
Coro — "Fecit potentiam"
C. Coro — "Gloria in excelsis Deo"
Aria (tenor) — "Deposuit potentes"
Aria (alto) — "Esurientes implevit bonis"
D. Aria (soprano, bass) — "Virga Jesse floruit"
Aria (soprano I/II, alto) — "Suscepit Israel"
Coro — "Sicut locutus est"
Coro — "Gloria Patri"
History
Bach composed in 1723 in his first year as Thomaskantor in Leipzig a version in E-flat major in 1723 for Christmas Vespers in Leipzig, using the Latin text of Magnificat with additional interpolated texts related to Christmas.[citation needed] In 1733, he adapted the Christmas version for a new version in D major, eliminating the interpolated texts, for the Marian feast of the Visitation, which was celebrated on 2 July in Leipzig at Bach's time. The second version had its premiere at the Thomaskirche on 2 July 2 1733, which coincided with the fourth Sunday after Trinity Sunday that year. Classical Music,
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 01 Chorus "Magnificat"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 02 Air "Et exultavit spiritus meus"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 03 Chorale "Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 04 Air "Quia respexit humilitatem"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 05 Chorus "Omnes generationes"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 06 Air "Quia mihi fecit magna"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 07 Chorale "Freut euch und jubilieret"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 08 Duet "Et misericordia"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 09 Chorus "Fecit potentiam"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 10 Chorale "Gloria in excelsis Deo"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 11 Air "Deposuit potentes"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 12 Air "Esurientes implevit bonis"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 13 Chorale "Virga Jesse floruit"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 14 Trio "Suscepit Israel"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 15 Chorus "Sicut locutus est"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 16 Chorus "Gloria Patri"
Composer Bach, Johann Sebastian
Opus/Catalogue Number BWV 243a ; BC.E14
Key E♭ major
Movements/Sections 12
Year/Date of Composition 1723
First Performance Leipzig, 25 December 1723
First Publication 1862
Librettist Bible, Luke 1:46--55
Language Latin
Piece Style Baroque
Instrumentation Soloists: 2 Sopranos, Alto, Tenor, Bass; Mixed Chorus (SSATB)
Orchestra: 3 trumpets, timpani, 2 recorders, 2 oboes, 2 violins, viola, continuo (+ bassoon)
Full Concert
The Magnificat in D major is a setting of the Magnificat text by Johann Sebastian Bach for five soloists, a five-part choir and orchestra. Bach first composed a version in E-flat major, (catalogued as BWV 243a) for Christmas in 1723 and then reworked that music in D major in 1733 (catalogued as BWV 243) for the feast of the Visitation. The Latin text is the canticle of Mary, mother of Jesus, as told in the Gospel of Luke.
Scoring and structure
The work is divided into twelve movements which can be grouped into three sections, each beginning with an aria and completed by the choir in a fugal chorus. Its performance lasts approximately thirty minutes. The indented parts below indicate the removed Christmas texts.
It is scored for five soloists, soprano I/II, alto, tenor, bass, a five-part choir, three trumpets, timpani, flauto traverso, two oboes (also oboe d'amore), two violins, viola, and basso continuo. It is one of few works which Bach set for a five-part choir,[citation needed] along with the Kyrie and Gloria, also of 1733, which he later expanded to form the Mass in B minor, and the motet Jesu, meine Freude.
Coro — "Magnificat"
Aria (soprano II) — "Et exsultavit spiritus meus"
A. Chorale motet — "Vom Himmel hoch"
Aria (soprano I) — "Quia respexit humilitatem"
Coro — "Omnes generationes"
Aria (bass) — "Quia fecit mihi magna"
B. Coro — "Freut euch und jubiliert"
Aria (alto, tenor) — "Et misericordia"
Coro — "Fecit potentiam"
C. Coro — "Gloria in excelsis Deo"
Aria (tenor) — "Deposuit potentes"
Aria (alto) — "Esurientes implevit bonis"
D. Aria (soprano, bass) — "Virga Jesse floruit"
Aria (soprano I/II, alto) — "Suscepit Israel"
Coro — "Sicut locutus est"
Coro — "Gloria Patri"
History
Bach composed in 1723 in his first year as Thomaskantor in Leipzig a version in E-flat major in 1723 for Christmas Vespers in Leipzig, using the Latin text of Magnificat with additional interpolated texts related to Christmas.[citation needed] In 1733, he adapted the Christmas version for a new version in D major, eliminating the interpolated texts, for the Marian feast of the Visitation, which was celebrated on 2 July in Leipzig at Bach's time. The second version had its premiere at the Thomaskirche on 2 July 2 1733, which coincided with the fourth Sunday after Trinity Sunday that year. Classical Music,
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 01 Chorus "Magnificat"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 02 Air "Et exultavit spiritus meus"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 03 Chorale "Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 04 Air "Quia respexit humilitatem"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 05 Chorus "Omnes generationes"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 06 Air "Quia mihi fecit magna"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 07 Chorale "Freut euch und jubilieret"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 08 Duet "Et misericordia"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 09 Chorus "Fecit potentiam"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 10 Chorale "Gloria in excelsis Deo"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 11 Air "Deposuit potentes"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 12 Air "Esurientes implevit bonis"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 13 Chorale "Virga Jesse floruit"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 14 Trio "Suscepit Israel"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 15 Chorus "Sicut locutus est"
BWV0243a Magnificat in E-flat major 16 Chorus "Gloria Patri"
Composer Bach, Johann Sebastian
Opus/Catalogue Number BWV 243a ; BC.E14
Key E♭ major
Movements/Sections 12
Year/Date of Composition 1723
First Performance Leipzig, 25 December 1723
First Publication 1862
Librettist Bible, Luke 1:46--55
Language Latin
Piece Style Baroque
Instrumentation Soloists: 2 Sopranos, Alto, Tenor, Bass; Mixed Chorus (SSATB)
Orchestra: 3 trumpets, timpani, 2 recorders, 2 oboes, 2 violins, viola, continuo (+ bassoon)
Full Concert
