Cantata BWV 148
Bringet dem Herrn Ehre seines Namens
Mvt. 1 - Structural Analysis

Here is Alfred Dürr’s structural analysis of BWV 148/1:

Structure:

A Instrumental Sinfonia - Exposition of thematic material

A’ Choral Fugue. This is preceded by a short homophonic choral section. What follows this are two fugal expositions using different themes. With the help of the trumpet, both of these fugal sections are expanded to a 5-part fugue:

a “Bringet dem Herrn Ehre seines Namens”

b “betet an den Herrn im heiligen Schmuck”

A ‘Choreinbau’ (mm 34-41) into the Repetition of the Introductory Instrumental Sinfonia [mm 34-37 = 1-4 and mm 37-40 = 30-33]

Dürr compares the rarely occurring disguised entry of the fugue [“Verschleierung des Fugenbeginns”] (mm 51-54) as a 4-measure, full-chorus, complex structure (not the block from mm 34-41) with the beginning of the choral fugue “Fecit potentiam” in the Magnificat BWV 243.

Dürr demonstrates how the fugal subjects for both fugues are based upon and developed from the introductory instrumental sinfonia:

All the entries of the 1^st fugual subject are given here:

One of the kernel ideas, a motif announced in the very first measure, may have been derived from the melody of the final chorale as seen here:

2^nd fugue sunject:

Contributed by Thomas Braatz (October 24-25, 2005)

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