BWV 1.6

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Original source: Cantata, Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1 (bach–digital page)
Chorale Text: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern (verse 7), by Philipp Nicolai (1599)
Tune: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, by Philipp Nicolai (1599), after Straßburg 1538* (Zahn 8359)
First Performance: 25 March 1725, Feast of the Annunciation of Mary
Appearance in Early Collections (Key): None
Other Harmonizations: BWVs 36.4, 172.6, 436

Instrumentation: Colla parte — S: violin 1, horn 1. A: violin 2, oboe di caccia 1. T: viola, oboe di caccia 2. B: continuo. Obbligato — horn 2.

Original manuscripts
Score: None extant
Parts: D–LEb Thomana 1

Notes

On the origin of Nicolai’s melody: In a brief 1917 article, C. Sanford Terry has shown the close relationship of Nicolai’s melody to an earlier melody found in Wolff Köphel’s 1538 Psalter hymnal. The tune is used for a setting of Psalm 100, Jauchzet dem Herren, Alle Land. Terry states: "[The Psalter melody] consists of five lines or phrases, the first, second, and fifth of which, it will be observed, are practically identical with the first half of Nicolai’s tune." (The Musical Times, Vol.58, No.893 (July 1, 1917), pp. 302–303)