Election anniversary of August III as King of Poland

Thursday 5 October 2023

Election anniversary of August III as King of Poland

5 October 2023 – In 1733, Augustus III succeeded his father (Augustus II) as King of Poland and Elector of Saxony. In 1734, on very short notice, a visit by Augustus to Leipzig was announced, and the anniversary of his election as Elector would occur during that visit.

Bach, being court composer to the King and the Elector (as he wrote himself on the manuscript of the Goldberg Variations), immediately went to work. He composed Preise dein Glücke, gesegnetes Sachsen, BWV 215, in no more than three days. Luckily he had some older material to reuse, like the opening movement which probably was used in the now lost cantata Es lebe der König, der Vater im Lande, BWV Anh 11, written in 1732 for the nameday of his father. Nonetheless... only three days, a strong feat.

This cantata was first performed on October 5th, 1734, in front of the Apels Haus, the Elector's palace on the market square in Leipzig, to great enjoyment of Augustus ("herzlich wohlgefallen" read the accounts).

Music for today

  • Preise dein Glücke, gesegnetes Sachsen, BWV 215
    (first performance 5 October 1734, Leipzig period)

Playlist

WBCF1005-Election anniversary of August III as King of Poland

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Image of the day

Portrait of Augustus III of Poland, Elector of Saxony -- workshop of Louis de Silvestre. He wears Polish garb and the Orders of the Golden Fleece and of the Holy Spirit. On the left hand side, on a chair upholstered with his crowned monogram, lies the mantle that the Saxon Government offered him for his coronation. To the right of the composition are, on a console, the insignias of regal power: crown, sceptre, and orb (Wikipedia).

Portrait of Augustus III of Poland, Elector of Saxony -- workshop of Louis de Silvestre. He wears Polish garb and the Orders of the Golden Fleece and of the Holy Spirit. On the left hand side, on a chair upholstered with his crowned monogram, lies the mantle that the Saxon Government offered him for his coronation. To the right of the composition are, on a console, the insignias of regal power: crown, sceptre, and orb (Wikipedia).