''Entfernet euch, ihr heitern Sterne'' (Disperse yourselves, ye stars, serenely!),
1156 (formerly ), is a birthday
cantata
A cantata (; ; literally "sung", past participle feminine singular of the Italian verb ''cantare'', "to sing") is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir.
The meaning of ...
by
Johann Sebastian Bach.
He composed it in
Leipzig to celebrate the 57th birthday of the Elector of Saxony, King
Augustus II the Strong,
and it was performed for him on his birthday, 12 May 1727, on the
Marktplatz of
Leipzig, by students of the
University of Leipzig,
with Bach directing.
The king was also presented with the work's
libretto
A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the t ...
, written by
Christian Friedrich Haupt
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρισ ...
.
The music to this secular birthday cantata by Bach is lost.
It has been speculated from the surviving libretto, however, that several movements from the
Mass in B minor
The Mass in B minor (), BWV 232, is an extended setting of the Mass ordinary by Johann Sebastian Bach. The composition was completed in 1749, the year before the composer's death, and was to a large extent based on earlier work, such as a Sanctu ...
are derived from it. A reconstruction has been created using the music of the Mass.
The cantata is counted among Bach's works for celebrations of the
Leipzig University, ''Festmusiken zu Leipziger Universitätsfeiern''.
Recordings
The reconstruction by Dr. Klaus Höfner has been recorded.
References
External links
* (libretto only)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Entfernet euch ihr heitern Sterne BWV Anh 9
1727 compositions
Secular cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach
Lost musical works by Johann Sebastian Bach
Leipzig University