Incomplete wedding cantata composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe (O eternal fire, o source of love), BWV 34.2 (formerly BWV 34a) is an incomplete wedding cantata composed by Johann Sebastian Bach, of which only the complete libretto and some parts (movements 2, 3 and 6) have survived.[1]
History and text
The cantata was composed in Leipzig most likely in 1725 or 1726,[2] or 1727 or later,[1] as a wedding commission, and performed shortly after its composition. As the choral numbers are lost, it is unknown whether any chorale theme had been used by Bach as inspiration for the writing.
Aria (for tenor) and Recitative (for alto): Siehe, also wird gesegnet der Mann, der den Herren fürchtet
Coro: Friede über Israel
Part 2
Aria (alto): Wohl euch, ihr auserwählten Schafe
Recitative (soprano): Das ist vor dich, o ehrenwürdger Mann
Coro: Gib, höchster Gott, auch hier dem Worte Kraft
Music
The opening chorus draws on imagery of eternal fire, represented in the strings. This is followed by a short secco bass recitative ending on an imperfect B minor cadence. The third movement exists only in reconstructed forms; it likely opened with strings and continuo. Its structure oddly alternates between aria and recitative episodes. The chorus appeals for peace.[6]
The second part opens with an alto aria that also appears in BWV 34.1. It includes an accompaniment of flute and muted violin in octaves. A brief secco soprano recitative leads into the closing chorus for which only soprano and bass parts are extant. As a result, it is unclear what role the other voices would play in the movement.[6]
Geoffrey Turner. Singing The Word: The Cantatas of J S Bach. New Blackfriars, volume 87, issue 1008, pages 144–154.
Christoph Wolff/Ton Koopman (Eds.): Die Welt der Bach-Kantaten, Metzler/Bärenreiter, Stuttgart und Kassel, 3 Bände Sonderausgabe 2006 ISBN3-476-02127-0