BWV 121.6

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Original source: Cantata, Christum wir sollen loben schon, BWV 121 (bach–digital page)
Chorale Text: Christum wir sollen loben schon (verse 8), by Martin Luther (1524), an adaptation of a 15th c. Latin hymn by Caelius Sedulius
Tune: Christum wir sollen loben schon, Straßburg 1537 (Zahn 297)
First Performance: 26 December 1724, 2nd Day of Christmas
Appearance in Early Collections (Key): Riemenschneider 56; Breitkopf 55; Birnstiel 58; AmB 46II p.128; Levy–Mendelssohn 7; Fasch p.38
Other Harmonizations: None

Instrumentation: Colla parte — S: violin 1, oboe d’amore, cornet. A: violin 2, trombone 1. T: viola, trombone 2. B: trombone 3, continuo.

Original manuscripts
Score: PL–Kj Mus. ms. Bach P 867
Parts: 1) D–LEb Thomana 121, 2) D–B Mus. ms. Bach St. 390, Faszikel 1 (sopr., vn 1, vn 2, cont. only)

Notes

Measure 13, beat 4: Presumably, the alto’s note should be a D–natural (as presented above and in the BGA), even though the original score and part, the Fasch manuscript, the AmB 46II manuscript, and the Breitkopf publication all fail to include a natural sign (canceling out the beat 1 sharp). Musically, a D–sharp is awkward here with a D–natural appearing on the following downbeat.

Measure 14, beat 1: The Fasch manuscript and Breitkopf publication have a D3 eighth note downbeat in the tenor rather than B3 that appears in the original parts and the AmB 46II manuscript.

The discrepancy may be attributed to the original score (PL–Kj Mus. ms. Bach P 867, shown below) which appears to have a correction. The large notehead on B3 and the original parts would presumably confirm b3 as the proper note.

AmB 46II variant ending: The ending of this chorale is truncated in the AmB 46II manuscript.