麻豆社

The Magnificat is one of the most ancient of Christian hymns. The text comes from the Gospel of Luke, words sung by the Virgin Mary in response to being praised for her faith. The Latin text heard here survived in the Lutheran church, to be sung at Vespers.

This exultant opening movement of the work is a sparkling chorus where joyous spirit, lent brassy brilliance by trumpets, recalls the atmosphere of many of the festive cantatas that J.S. Bach is known and so well-loved for.

In Leipzig in the mid-1720s, J.S. Bach composed, copied and prepared church cantatas week after week in time for Sunday services. Cantatas were not required for the Sundays in Advent or Lent, so with more time to compose and rehearse in these periods the great composer had time to plan more ambitious works. This rich and vibrant Magnificat comes from these cantata-respites, around the years 1723-1731.