Bach - Cantata Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott BWV 80 - Sato | Netherlands Bach Society

This cantata, Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott BWV 80, is a combative cantata written for Reformation Day as a battle song of the Reformation. Military references are found not just in the words, but in the music as well, built up by Bach over the years.
Recorded for the project All of Bach on June 21 2022 at Philarmonie Haarlem, the Netherlands. If you want to help us complete All of Bach, please subscribe to our channel bit.ly/2vhCeFB and consider donating bit.ly/3J5uprM.
We thank MWH4impact foundation for their generous support of this recording. MWH4impact aims to achieve social and cultural impact and joins the Netherlands Bach Society in their mission Bach for All.
For more information on BWV 80 and this production go to www.bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/...
All of Bach is a project of the Netherlands Bach Society, offering high-quality film recordings of the works by Johann Sebastian Bach, performed by the Netherlands Bach Society and its guest musicians. Visit our free online treasury for more videos and background material on www.bachvereniging.nl/en/allo.... For concert dates and tickets go to www.bachvereniging.nl/en/conc....
Netherlands Bach Society
Shunske Sato, violin and direction
Isabel Schicketanz, soprano
Franz Vitzthum, alto
Thomas Hobbs, tenor
Wolf Matthias Friedrich, bass
0:00 Ein feste Burg (Chor)
5:23 Mit unser Macht (Arie)
8:51 Erwäge doch (Rezitativ)
10:53 Komm in mein Herzenshaus (Arie)
14:01 Und wenn die Welt (Choral)
17:10 So stehe dann (Rezitativ)
18:33 Wie selig sind (Duet)
22:31 Das Wort sie sollen lassen (Choral)

[@bach]

0:08 Ein feste Burg (Chor) 5:23 Mit unser Macht (Arie) 8:51 Erwäge doch (Rezitativ) 10:53 Komm in mein Herzenshaus (Arie) 14:01 Und wenn die Welt (Choral) 17:10 So stehe dann (Rezitativ) 18:33 Wie selig sind (Duet) 22:31 Das Wort sie sollen lassen (Choral)

[@LuisAntunes-hu7sr]

We live in the best time in history. When a boy, like me, who lives in a small town in the interior of Brazil has easy access to a work like this.

[@CharlesLumia]

The internet can be wonderful!

[@VAPaddlingMeetup]

Truly. The perfect fusion of science, technology, engineering and math learning and advancement with art. Edit: From one perspective, this music, performed by NBS, recorded by technology unimaginable in its time, then sent into the heavens to be redistributed back to all parts of the Earth by a network of satellites, to be resurrected by devices of almost magical power from an 18thC perspective..... I think Bach would smile at the concept.

[@DatGinnga]

Not many people I meet have such a good perspective on the world. Nice to see, Absolutely great time to be alive 😊🙏🏻

[@gillesmontezin497]

Please enjoy! Bach would not be happier to know someone appreciate his music !

[@Maylon_Manoel]

É isso aí, meu querido!

[@aynisinemalarrrr]

Dear Sato, please do not leave this beautiful society 😭😭😭😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢 we love you so much 💕💕💕💕😢

[@glenngouldification]

Can we imagine living life without Bach ? Impossible thought !

[@LOutreMondeLaurentHuguelit]

Pure beauty ! So grateful that I found the Netherlands Bach Society's channel on KZbin. It is my every day's moment of bliss... Bach is the master of masters...

[@ariadne4720]

Absolutely! It has been my "go to" channel for a good 7 years now. The best channel on KZbin, hands down (though I also highly recommend avrotros klassiek. They have the NBS anniversary concert/performance there which I really, really love)

[@jaikee9477]

Written by Luther, respectfully reworked by Bach and incredibly well performed by NBS! Thank you! ❤

[@davidhancock8861]

Shunske Sato manages to drill down to the joy expressed in even the most militant of Bach's cantatas. The complexity of the counterpoint arrangement in the opening chorus simply defies the limits of human artistic capability. BWV 80 is just another of innumerable examples as to why J S Bach is harmony's immortal god.

[@kathyjohnson2043]

Yes. I love Bach's music (i got married on his birthday with all Bach music ) He takes the counterpart that any composer would be proud of ..and then adds 2 more voices.

[@michaelperkins8364]

Just came across this at 9 am on a cold Friday morning! What a find! Once again amazing quality from Netherlands Bach Soc. Notice the smiles of several singers/instrumentalists as they perform!! No wonder!!

[@loveelena77]

Sato leads not only the artist’s best skills, but also their hearts. Bravo, NBS! Thank you.

[@jeannedjaballah6319]

This music is so alive...the whole group is with the conductor...The inspiration of his direction bringing a unity of thought, voice and conviction!

[@loveelena77]

@@jeannedjaballah6319 I agree with you. This group is not only the best, but also the souls with open hearts. So they're expressing a high level of beauty in music. This is the real art.

[@scottwexlin6456]

The bassist gets a real workout in this one! And good to see Leo van D rockin’ the portative! Speaking from an organist’s perspective, An excellent performance overall. Bravo.

[@VAPaddlingMeetup]

The cello performance in the soprano Aria.....sublime. A perfect dance.

[@benreuter6365]

Ach…. This Sato is so amazing… so charismatic personality and this soprano…. Really moving

[@stephenluko3301]

This cantata is so beautiful and the players and singers are simply magnificent!!!

[@federicus1517]

One of my favourite lutheran hymns in the wonderful adaption by Bach performed by the very best Bach ensemble there is. Thank you very much, God bless you!

[@marcelo8442]

It's the heaven's music. I have no doubt about this. How can the human voices sound like this ? Perfect.

[@jlcarrera9670]

I wanna cry, what a beautiful performance and cantata. Always Bach!

[@thomaslock868]

Love the use of original instruments (without the 'added brass' - though I am a trumpet player). Brings out the dialogue between strings and choir even better this way!

[@herrickinman9303]

In the opening chorale fantasia and the final chorale, there is no dialog between strings and the voices. The strings merely double the voices.

[@classicaldeb]

Ohhhhhh!

[@lenaN5k8Q9]

Bach's music is so beautiful Thank you NBS for an absolutely wonderful performance🍃

[@thays3649]

Always always truly stunning. Such fabulous musicianship and exhilarating performances. A brilliant ensemble. Externally grateful to be able to acesss!

[@adrianoluis5884]

Bach's remarkable counterpoint skills are perfectly showed in this particular Cantata, I can honestly say that this Cantata is absolutely one of the Countpoint miracles in the whole Music literature, thanks so much for this NBS, well performed!

[@ariadne4720]

I think you hit on why I find this particular performace so irresistible. Thank you for explaining my fixation on this piece :)

[@PunguinYoga]

It is amazing.

[@davidrichie9570]

Magnificent but I miss the trumpets. WF Bach wasn’t a dope.

[@joost505]

I see multiple people complain about the clothing in this video. NBS tries to reach a broader audience by making the performances more accessible. Everyone can enjoy Bach. Also it sounds the same when it’s sang in formal attire.

[@ronalddunne3413]

HAHA! I never noticed their attire until reading your post and checking... After growing up in a somewhat stiff Reformed Calvinist Dutch-descended congregation- something like this performance would have been unthinkable back then. Thankfully I learned how to think it for myself!

[@cassandraseven3478]

Worship (love, adoration) is an everyday matter.

[@benjaminniemczyk]

Relentless perfection and relentless demands on the ensemble! All rendered with finesse that only Netherlands Bach can deliver. Bravi to all involved.

[@phillipvietri8786]

The patent enjoyment of the performers is obvious in this recording and communicates the joy in Bach'[s music to the audience.

[@luciuveru9255]

Wonderful performance of this cantata. This cantata is like a dance for our souls.❤❤❤

[@brrrumi1]

Einfach sehr schön. Ich liebe Bach. Danke für alles .

[@HDougMatsuoka]

Thanks so much for posting this! I was lucky enough to catch Netherlands Bach Society’s performance of this in Nikolaikirche at the 2022 #BachfestLeipzig. I didn’t know one could give a standing ovation in a church, but it was certainly well-deserved! It was my first trip to Germany (and Europe too) and I got to visit the old burgs which have intact stone walls from the past. These walls are a massive impenetrable mesh of stone that protected the townfolk. It struck me then that what Bach is doing is creating such a wall using a mesh of phrases from Luther’s hymn. This “wall of Bach” is rather intimidating at first, but once grasped offers us an amazing protection against the mediocrities of the world we live in

[@herrickinman9303]

Oh, please stop with the naive, romantic speculation. Bach isn't creating a "mesh of phrases." He's simply doing what is normally done in a cantata setting of a chorale: each movement presents a different stanza of the chorale. It has nothing to do with walls or protection. FYI, the German word _Burg_ means "fortress."

[@HDougMatsuoka]

@@herrickinman9303 I don't want to spend too much time challenging your ignorance but wish to bring up a couple of facts: When I look up the definition of "burg" I get "an ancient or medieval fortress or walled town." Which is what I was referring to. As far as the structure of BWV 80, it uses the four musical phrases arranged contrapuntally. Here's a wonderful musical, structural analysis: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4XUZJqpr7Wmf7M . YOu may now return to your own safe and insulated state of ignorance.

[@herrickinman9303]

@@HDougMatsuoka You can challenge a person's beliefs, but ignorance is merely a lack of knowledge or information. You cannot challenge a lack of knowledge or information. Perhaps you need a quick refresher course in English grammar and composition. I already tried to enlighten you by explaining that the German word _Burg_ means FORTRESS. Furthermore, the literal English translation of _ein feste Burg ist unser Gott_ is "a mighty FORTRESS is our God." In your original comment, you didn't specify a particular movement. You wrote, "It struck me then that what Bach is doing is creating such a wall using a mesh of phrases from Luther’s hymn." I naturally assumed you were referring to the entire cantata, and I correctly pointed out that each movement of the cantata sets a different STANZA (not a different "phrase") of the hymn. Now you explain that you were referring to the structure of chorale fantasia, not the structure of the cantata. You merely assume you know more about this chorale fantasia than I do. You flatter yourself, undeservedly. I was well aware of the contrapuntal structure of the chorale fantasy long before I ever heard of you or Atkinson. What you refer to as "mesh of phrases" in order to serve your lame "burg" metaphor is simply fugato, imitation, stretto and canon --- all contrapuntal devices used Bach and other composers of his generation and earlier generations have used. Bach used these techniques in many other chorale fugues on hymns that have nothing to do with walls, "meshes of stones," walled towns or fortresses.

[@rebanelson607]

@@herrickinman9303 What good is a fortress without walls? :)

[@HDougMatsuoka]

@@herrickinman9303 The contrapuntal use of different phrases of the hymn against each other is unusual in Bach's cantatas. And the burgs I visited in Germany were indeed walled towns. "Burg" doesn't mean fortress exclusively. Many words are like this, have several related meanings. It certainly can mean fortress, but also castle, and walled town. That's where we get the term "burger" meaning townsman, citizen, or sometimes pejoratively, someone rather complacently middle class. My point was that the dense counterpoint using "meshed" phrases might be a metaphor for the very impressive structure of these walls. It certainly struck me as such. I was going to suggest that you return to school to complete your education, but I doubt it would help given the failure of such the first time around.

[@meijong6453]

Breathtakingly wonderful. Everything here is greatness.

[@pjkhunold]

Dass war vor 45 Jahren im Kirchenchor mein erstes Werk mit Orchester. Ich war 13. Seitdem ist Bach ein Stück meine Lebens. Inzwischen habe ich die Matthäuspassion exakt 50mal mitgesungen.

[@rjwusher]

Wat een grandioze uitvoering. De schoonheid, energie en vreugde spatten ervan af. Bravo!

[@pastorrobertomartinezcalde8632]

Felicidades, excelente interpretación. Muy edificante. Sólo para la gloria de Dios 🙏🌹...

[@WilhelmGuggisberg]

Y tambien para la gloria humana secular en general.

[@user-uu2mr1cb4d]

В этом исполнении так много позитивной энергии, что она передаётся слушателю и способна "зарядить" и его. Спасибо!

[@viktormelik4144]

Bachstiftung, Sankt Gallen, Schweizer. Rudolf Lutz.

[@ascanbe3321]

If you're like me and remember there being trumpets and timpani in this cantata: They were added later by Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (thanks Google)!

[@kathyjohnson2043]

I love it either way and since JSB loved to add 2 or more voices to the standard forms of the day, I don't think he would object to them.

[@raulalejandroferrero308]

¡¡¡Fabuloso!!! Excelente versión, excelentes cantantes, instrumentistas y director. Una de las cantatas más complejas y hermosas de Bach. Un sincero saludo desde Argentina.

[@DatGinnga]

I throughly enjoyed this :) always unparalleled performances, thank you to everyone involved

[@richardjoyce738]

Couldn't be more perfect if it were performed in heaven.

[@matthew7419]

You guys manage to keep such a high performance standard. I'm always amazed.

[@ashishgup]

The Duet towards the end was absolutely amazing ❤

[@CharlesLumia]

Amazing! Beautiful work everyone!

[@CharlesLumia]

Also hi from New York

[@mysticmouse7261]

Bach eavesdropping on the celestial choir again.

[@ariadne4720]

For some reason I find myself listening/watching this every day, sometimes more than once, since it's been posted. And I really thought I disliked this hymn, after having to sing it so many times in school and church (fyi I was an atheist even as a child, but school, you know). There is something so sublime about this performance. It would absolutely be one of my top 5 Netherlands Bach Society recordings, except there are *so* many that are so superb, I have more like a top 50.

[@riddleofsteel9156]

What would your other top 4 be? Would love to explore this channel more, it’s so great!

[@ariadne4720]

@@riddleofsteel9156 sorry to not reply sooner, I just saw your comment. These are not in any order, all are superb. And many more than this, Here is a smattering of my favourites - (1) The Goldberg Variations performed by Jean Rondeau.(2) Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee (3) Auf, schmetternde Töne, (4) All of the 'Cello Suites by NBS (I am a 'cellist, I can't pick one), (5) Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht, 'Kaffeekantate'

[@melissaraven3164]

Wie self sind 18:33 is one of those stop-me-in-my-tracks arias. The voices of Thomas Hobbs (always good) and Franz Vitzhum (new to me; hopefully a regular in AllofBach) intertwine beautifully. And it's almost a trio, with Sato on violin. Love it!

[@edong1127]

Bach. the ultimate master of the composers music is amazedly beautiful and with such complex best music to calm your ears

[@TM-hh5ch]

I listened to the entire performance, concentrating on not missing a single moment. It was difficult to predict how the performers would present the phrases of this famous piece during the entire performance, based on my previous experience of listening to the cantata. Every performance was full of surprises and emotions. I am convinced that the world that Bach wanted to create is clearly visible on this performance.

[@sonjamuller2846]

Wunderschön, vielen herzlichen Dank ⭐️

[@redbrian3655]

I would love to hear Isabel Schicketanz perform Bach BWV 51. Her voice is enchanting and she has marvelous phrasing and breath support. 14:01 is the best tempo I have ever heard performed.

[@martinatkacova7706]

Beautifull,beautyfull,beautyfull !!!❤❤❤

[@556suppressor]

Just discovered this music by NBS, how magnificent !

[@francescolanzini5792]

Wonderful ! Perfect !

[@chessematics]

Unbelievable they uploaded this the very day i subscribed

[@stariknodens]

That was a gift for the new subscriber😆

[@chessematics]

@@stariknodens yea really

[@lukasburgering1477]

thank you @NetherlandsBachSociety for sharing this piece of absolute beauty.

[@crossiqu]

Fantástico !! Otra redonda y maravillosa interpretación

[@dutchbrussels3025]

Fantastic! Pure art from Heaven

[@richardweiss4167]

Long been one of my favourite pieces by Bach!

[@verabel7197]

Потрясающе!!!🥰🙏❤

[@romanbyzantine27]

(Dressed casually) they are like: "Let's record this rehearsal" "Why not?"

[@ciaociao1880]

BWV80は昔から特に好きな曲🎵 今夜はこれを聞けて嬉しくて満足😍

[@BarcelonaAustinA35]

ENERGY, VITALITY. This cantata is amazing

[@benjamindemornay1444]

In french " c'est un rempart que notre Dieu, une invincible armure" Psalm 46 Martin Luther experimented this psalm, for me, i recommend the great book of Luther : commentary on galatians, don't forget: the reform was the greatest spiritual awakening of history...and Bach, a genius

[@carlosacolon9266]

Absolutely magnificent!

[@thethikboy]

glorious heavenly Bach

[@johnmartin4152]

Dat was uitstekend. Bedankt!

[@dougalderdice6796]

Glorious, as always!

[@alanmarr3323]

Excellent as usual!

[@dylanrussell2263]

This one is awesome! Thanks!

[@TheSoteriologist]

Beautiful !

[@user-ro9jg8yc2q]

Wow, what a find! Bravo! 👌

[@SilvioNobre]

Deslumbrante! ❤️❤️😍

[@carltrummer9103]

Wow, beautiful. Thank you.

[@ricardodemattos8490]

Bravo 👏 👏! I loved so much!!💐🌷🌹

[@bakuami-g-coda]

What a wonderful performance! I love it!

[@fegarcia7]

This is beautiful and really honors Jesus Christ, the one and only God

[@WilhelmGuggisberg]

And honors human imagination and creativity.

[@wernermisteli1162]

🙏❤️

[@user-si8nk2lk1z]

Спасибо за совершенство!

[@paoloangeri5146]

stupenda esecuzione bravissimi complimenti

[@dmitriwright997]

Beautiful

[@saidtoshimaru1832]

What a masterpiece.

[@davebeerman]

I didn't know this cantata before watching this video and i'm glad to have found this gem. Thank you, NBS, for this and all your excellent videos, all of which i enjoy very much. If you ever get the chance to re-master/release this I would suggest amplifying Wolf's voice a little bit, at least during "Mit unser Macht". Keep on Bachin'

[@florafurioso9197]

This cantata defined most of my adult life. This performance is the finest to have reached my ears.

[@abo9saad]

What an introduction ❤

[@elizamarezende]

Qu'est-ce que c'est beau!

[@lisawinter3525]

Ausgezeichnet!

[@user-dl6ry1pq7m]

Низкий поклон и самая сердечная благодарность!

[@theswoletuner5460]

wow! Fantastic tempo, by the way! Love it.

[@notaire2]

Lebhafte und wunderschöne Aufführung dieser fein komponierten Kantate mit gut harmonisierten Stimmen des ausgezeichneten Chors und herrlichen Stimmen vierer genialen Solisten sowie gut vereinigten und perfekt entsprechenden Tönen aller Originalinstrumente. Der intelligente und unvergleichliche Violinist/Dirigent leitet das ebenso ausgezeichnete Barockorchester im rhythmischen Tempo und mit effektiver Dynamik. Wunderbar vom Anfang bis zum Ende!

[@user-bc1ng7zr8m]

コーラス、演奏、指揮全てが調和が取れた美しすぎる演奏。音を聴き入るだけでなく、風景を見入ってしまいます。

[@barroco05]

Fantastic performance!

[@kereldeman2989]

BRAVO.

[@staffanolofsson8201]

This is a wonderful performance, one of the best by NBS! I enjoy it very much because of its polyphonic structure that brings lots of benefits in our adaption of this to us listeners.

[@donaldcatton4028]

Great liberty is given to the singers….

[@johanngottliebgoldberg1055]

Leo is my favorite musician!

[@kevinvanderkooi3656]

Yet another hit! And with a conductor who both plays and conducts. He must have unbelievable control over that choir cuz they look like a rebellious bunch. 😵‍💫 I always check for familiar faces, it somehow gives me comfort, so is it possible that the middle doublereed player is the same guy who played way back for the St. John Passion?

[@bach]

Yes, if you mean one of the tenor in the second row: Adriaan de Koster. And yes, if you mean the tenor in front: Thomas Hobbs.

[@kevinvanderkooi3656]

@@bach I mean the oboe player.

[@bach]

@@kevinvanderkooi3656 ah ofcourse, completely overlooked 'doublereed' in your question🧐.That's Benny Aghassi, one of our core members and indeed also one of the musicians in the St John Passion.

[@sgillies1219]

I was honored to see NBS perform on 2/15 and was tickled to see some of the same people in the videos.

[@kevinvanderkooi3656]

@@bach LOL, I think you named the bassoon player? I was wondering about the oboe player in the middle. 😊🙃

[@tgis82]

듣고 듣고 또 듣고...

[@dobri61]

So schön.... danke schön. Und ich habe Sofia entdeckt.... liebe Grüße. Doris

[@issievdhorst]

Wonderlik!!!

[@ronalddunne3413]

These folks are obviously ENJOYING their performance- I'm enjoying it too! Not too bad for a bunch of Dutchies! Enjoyable and well played. Ja, goed werk, Piet! Fijne dikke vrouw, ja... Fijne zonen en dochters van de gereformeerde kerk! From Colorado USA🤠

[@LauroRodrigues-ox4rw]

Bahia, Brazil here.

[@whosaysitmatters]

I'm really impressed by Wolf Matthias Friedrich - they all had so much fun!

[@videograu]

trés bien

[@sarribel]

Zure omenez Ama maitea. Eskerrik asko. Thank You Very Much

[@zachuram]

Bach's genius is surpassed only by his piety! ONWARDS CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS!!

[@salvatoregiglio7364]

Come vorrei cantare con loro ....👏👏