Magnificat in D major (BWV 243) (Full Score)

J S Bach Magnificat in D major (BWV 243) (Full Score)

The magnificat, one of the three “Cantica” of the New Testament, was an integral part of evensong in the Lutheran liturgy of Bach’s time, as it had been in the old church and as it is to this day.  In Leipzig it was sung during the Saturday and Sunday services of evensong in the 9th psalm tone and on German words.  On the three major festival days however it was sung in polyphonic style on Latin words.  For that purpose Bach not only copied out some compositions by others, his own settings of the magnificat too were written for it.

The first version of this work is in E-flat major and was written for the Christmas evensong of 1723.  It contains – apart from the liturgical text of the magnificat, wound up by the doxology, as commonly practised in the rendering of Christian psalms – four special insertions for Christmas, which, by their position at the very end of the full score, appear to have been composed last.  The score contains special indications allotting them their place in the performance.  These inserted numbers point back to an old custom according to which the Christmas story was performed dramatically during the service of evensong at Christmas.

The revision resulting in the version in D major, which alone is known today, may have been carried out by Bach about 1728/1731.  It was evidently not conceived for a performance at Christmas for the inserted movements are missing.  The orchestration received added brilliance through two additional flutes and occasional blemishes in the part-writing have been amended.  The melodic flux runs more smoothly, the harmonies have become more logical and the rhythmic structure of some sections more concise.  The transposition into D major has been carried out presumably for the sake of the trumpets.  Trumpets in E-flat were evidently not normally at Bach’s disposal.

Our edition includes the four Christmas inserts from the E-flat major version transposed into D major.

- Urtext of the New Bach Edition

- Full score and parts BA5103, vocal score BA5103-90 and study score format 22.5 x 16.5cm TP2 available for sale

- Magnificat in E-flat major BWV243a available BA 5208