Composition: Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn, BWV 132 (Bach, Johann Sebastian)
| Title | Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn |
| Alternative title | Prepare the Paths, Prepare the Road! |
| Creators | Johann Sebastian Bach (composer) |
| Opus | BWV 132 |
| Instrumentation | soprano, alto, tenor, bass, mixed chorus and orchestra |
| Number of movements | 6 |
| Keys | A major |
| Composed | 1715 |
| First published | 1881 |
| Dedication | — |
| Tempo markings | — |
| Metronome markings | — |
| Time signatures | — |
| Average duration (sec) | 1320 |
| Number of measures | — |
| Composition types | Sacred cantatas |
| Language | German |
| Period | Baroque |
| View on IMSLP |  |
| Code |  |
Sections
| Title click for details |
Metronome | Key | Measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aria (soprano): Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn! | — | A major | — |
| Recitativo (tenor): Willst du dich Gottes Kind und Christi Bruder nennen | — | A major | — |
| Aria (bass): Wer bist du? Frage dein Gewissen | — | E major | — |
| Recitativo (alto): Ich will, mein Gott, dir frei heraus bekennen | — | B minor | — |
| Aria (alto): Christi Glieder, ach bedenket | — | B minor | — |
| Chorale: Ertöt uns durch deine Güte | — | A major | — |
Arrangements
| Details | Section | Arranged for | Arranger |
|---|---|---|---|
| view | Aria: 'Christi Glieder, ach bedenket' (No.5) | violin and viola violin and cello 2 violas viola and cello 2 cellos |
Peter Lang |
| view | Aria: 'Christi Glieder, ach bedenket' (No.5) | trumpet and organ | Michel Rondeau |
| view | Chorale: 'Ertöt uns durch deine Güte' (No.6) | 2 violins and cello violin, viola and cello violin and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang |
Scores
| Details | Section | Type | Publisher | Date | File |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| view | Complete | — | Composer's Manuscript | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | — | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Complete | — | Ramon Casadesus-Masanell | 2021 | 1. Aria: 'Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn!' · view 2. Recitativo: 'Willst du dich Gottes Kind und Christi Bruder nennen' · view 3. Aria: 'Wer bist du? Frage dein Gewissen' · view 4. Recitativo: 'Ich will, mein Gott, dir frei heraus bekennen' · view 5. Aria: 'Christi Glieder, ach bedenket' · view 6. Chorale: 'Ertöt uns durch deine Güte' · view Engraving files (MuseScore) · view |
| view | Complete | parts | — | — | Oboe · view Bassoon · view Violins I · view Violins II · view Violas · view Continuo (Cellos/Basses) · view Organ · view |
| view | Complete | vocal score | Breitkopf und Härtel | — | Complete Score · view |
| view | Aria: 'Christi Glieder, ach bedenket' (No.5) | Arrangement for violin and viola violin and cello 2 violas viola and cello 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2015 | Complete Score and Parts (original key) · view Complete Score and Parts (in D major ) · view |
| view | Aria: 'Christi Glieder, ach bedenket' (No.5) | Arrangement for trumpet and organ |
— | — | Complete Score and Trumpet Part · view Engraving files (Finale & XML) · view |
| view | Chorale: 'Ertöt uns durch deine Güte' (No.6) | Arrangement for 2 violins and cello violin, viola and cello violin and 2 cellos |
Peter Lang | 2017 | Complete Score and Parts · view |
Recordings/Performances
©2025 David P. Anderson