An Ascension Day procession in Bavaria
If you are near Oxford, make haste to the Bodleian Library, where you will find on display the autograph of Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein, BWV 128, a cantata for Ascension by JS Bach. It is one of only four Bach manuscripts in the UK, and amongst the best-preserved in the world. Seeing the scribbles, blotches, smudges, and wonky bar lines brings one almost to within hand-shaking distance of genius.
The opening movement is Bach at his most jubilant. As the chorus proclaims Christ’s ascent, two horns fight for attention with rapid repeated notes and heavenward leaps. The bass aria, Auf, auf, mit hellem Schall (“Up, up, with bright sound”), is accompanied by a frighteningly virtuosic trumpet obbligato part – a merry noise indeed. It is a foil to the misery of the preceding recitative, but the celebration does not last long. The aria slides back to accommodate a libretto that doesn’t seem too fond of singers or inquisitive believers: “Be silent, rash mouth, and do not attempt to fathom…”. Thankfully, there is a jolly reprise.
