Funeral Queen Christiane Eberhardine
17 October 2023 – An extra cantata for you today, outside of the liturgical heartbeat. Laß, Fürstin, laß noch einen Strahl, BWV 198 is a cantata that Bach wrote for the funeral of Christiane Eberhardine, spouse of August II the Strong, the Elector of Saxony, the electorate (state) in which Leipzig is located.
This cantata is also known as Trauerode or as Trauerode: auf den Tod der Königin Christiane Eberhardine. It was first performed on 17 October 1727 in the University Church in Leipzig. Bach himself directed from the harpsichord. Although a purely secular cantata with matching text (on how much the Queen will be missed), Bach hinted at salvation through cryptic references to previous religious cantatas he wrote. Bach later borrowed from this cantata for his Markus-Passion and for Klagt, Kinder, klagt es aller Welt, BWV 244a, another funeral ode written in 1729.
Music for today
- Laß, Fürstin, laß noch einen Strahl, BWV 198
(first performance 17 October 1727, Leipzig period)
Extra information
The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 198:
https://www.bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-198/
Playlist
WBCF1017-Funeral Queen Christiane Eberhardine
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Image of the day
An ivory carving of Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (1671-1727) by Jean Cavalier, a French artist who worked at many European courts.