Cantata BWV 18
Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee vom Himmel fällt
Provenance

Thomas Braatz wrote (February 9, 2002):
BWV 18 - Provenance:

Original set of parts are in the BB (Staatsbibliothek Berlin) which acquired this set after Franz Hauser’s death (1853) who in turn probably acquired it from Joseph Maria von Radowitz. Beyond that no evidence exists to track this cantata back to the distribution of Bach’s estate. It was not listed among the major cantata cycles.

Bach’s autograph title on the 1^st page:

Dominica Sexagesim:
Gleich wie der Regen und Schnee vom Himmel fält.
â
2 Flauti
4 Viole.
Violoncello è Fagotto.
4 Voci è
Baßo per l’Organo.
da
Giov: Bast. Bach.

The “2 Flauti” is a later addition from the Leipzig period that Bach squeezed between the lines. It is noted that his handwriting had changed by the time this was inserted. It is also obvious that these parts were added later and not simply copied from already existing flute parts. He had to transpose the cantata from g-minor to a-minor for which he also needed to write out a new continuo part in a-minor so that the cantata could be performed in Leipzig. The recorders were probably included to add some brightness to the generally lower range covered by the viols.

First Performance:

Spitta gives either February 19, 1713 or February 4, 1714. Dürr, based on manuscript paper evidence allows for the latest date to be on February 24, 1715. Wolff states that “according to the latest research, BWV 18 dates from 1713” for which not a single shred of evidence or argumentation is given. [Wolff might as well be playing Johnny Carson, as he holds the sealed envelope to his forehead and pronounces the date as being “1713.”] Chafe even extends the range from 1711 to 1715. Again no references or argumentation are given to substantiate this information.

Cantata BWV 18: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements | Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3