Johann Sebastian Bach: First Chorus from "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben" (BWV 147) (1723)

Cantata #147 composed in 1723 was one of JS Bach's earliest contracted works at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig. It was an expanded version of an even earlier six movement Cantata from his youth in Weimar at the court chapel of Duke Wilhelm Ernst in 1716. The first movement features a 4 part chorus accompanied by trumpet, 2 oboes, 2 violins, viola, cello and organ. It was based on a non-liturgical text commemorating the Visitation to the Virgin Mary by Elizabeth, mother John the Baptist.

The vocal simulation was created with Synthesizer V using the Solaria voice bank for the boy soprano and alto and the Kevin voice bank for the tenor and bass. The instrumental sounds were generated on an iPhone using Music Studio 2.0.

Text and translation:

Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben (Heart, mouth, deed, life)
Muss von Christo Zeugnis geben (must bear witness to Christ)
Ohne Furcht und Heuchelei, (without fear nor hypocrisy)
Dass er Gott und Heiland sei. (that he is God and saviour).

Description of the photos:

1. First chorus, "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben," JS Bach
2. Natural trumpet in D, Johann Leonhard Ehe III, Nuremberg, c1750
3. Thomaskirche interior, photo by Reginasphotos (Pixabay)
4. Denner oboe, c1730
5. The Visitation of the Virgin Mary by Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, Jerónimo Ezquerra
6. Thomaskirche during Bach's lifetime, 1735
7. Statue of JS Bach outside the walls of Thomaskirche in Leipzig
8. The Town Hall (Rathaus) in the center of Leipzig in the late 19th century
9. Portrait Gottfriend Reiche, Bach's trumpet player at Thomaskirche
10. Still life of musical instruments in Bach's time, Nicolas Henry Jeaurat, c1755; note the trumpet, horn, violin, cello and bassoon.