BWV 36c

Schwingt freudig euch empor (Soar joyfully aloft), BWV 36c, is a secular cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed it in Leipzig, most likely in 1725; there is evidence of a performance of this cantata taking place in April or May 1725. He used it as a base for two other secular cantatas and a church cantata for the first Sunday in Advent, Schwingt freudig euch empor, BWV 36.

The cantata was probably a homage to one of Bach's academic colleagues, but it is not known which; Johann Matthias Gesner (at the time based in Weimar), and Johann Heinrich Ernesti (the septuagenarian rector of the Thomasschule) have been suggested as possible recipients. Bach reworked this cantata in both secular and sacred versions:

The text is likely by Christian Friedrich Henrici (Picander), who in 1727 published another version (Steigt freudig in die Luft), a birthday cantata for the duchess of Anhalt-Köthen. The duchess's birthday cantata was also set by Bach (probably in 1726), but the music is lost.

The cantata is scored for three soloists—soprano, tenor and bass—a four-part choir, two oboes d'amore, two violins, viola, viola d'amore and basso continuo.

The opening chorus is a "jolly" gavotte form, highlighting the oboe d'amore (which is also important in introducing the third movement). The recitatives are all secco and fairly short, with the tenor recitative being only six measures long.

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