Homage for Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels

Homage for Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels

12 January 2024 – On January 12, 1729, Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels, visited Leipzig. He was a high noble who was a patron of the arts, and Bach had already written Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd!, BWV 208a, for him in 1713. As a homage for this visit he wrote and performed today's cantata, O angenehme Melodei, BWV 210a, on that day.

The cantata became part of his repertory of congratulatory and homage cantatas, dedicated at least twice to different people and occasions. Bach used it as the base for his wedding cantata O holder Tag, erwünschte Zeit, BWV 210.

Most of the music of today's cantata was lost, but can be reconstructed from the later work, which survived completely, which is what musical historian Alexander Grychtolik managed to do, so we have to thank him when we are listening to this work.

Music for today

• O angenehme Melodei, BWV 210a
  (first performance 12 January 1729, Leipzig period)