Sheep may safely graze

External audio
External audio
	"Sheep may safely graze", sung by soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf in 1954 – via Internet Archive

"Sheep may safely graze" (German: Schafe können sicher weiden) is a soprano aria by Johann Sebastian Bach to words by Salomon Franck. The piece was written in 1713 and is part of the cantata Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd, BWV 208 (Only the lively hunt pleases me), also known as the Hunting Cantata.

Like Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring", "Sheep may safely graze" is frequently played at weddings.^[1] However, the cantata BWV 208 was originally written for a birthday celebration of Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels. Bach was based at the nearby court of Weimar, and musicians from both courts appear to have joined in the first performance in Weißenfels. Bach is known to have used the music again for other celebrations, but it remained unpublished until after his death.

Instrumentation

Bach had a Baroque instrumental ensemble at his disposal including two horns, an instrument associated with the hunt.^[2] For this number (movement 9 of the complete work), the singer is not accompanied by the full ensemble used elsewhere in the cantata, but by two recorders and continuo. The use of flute-like instruments is typical of pastoral music.

Since the revival of Bach's music in the 19th century, "Sheep may safely graze" has been arranged for other instruments.

Text

The piece's title evokes a pastoral scene and has been referenced in discussions of how European culture depicts domestic animals and sheep in particular.^[3]^[4]

In the cantata, the recitative and aria are sung by the role of the ancient Roman god of shepherds, flocks, and livestock, Pales. Pales compares the peaceful life of sheep under a watchful shepherd to the inhabitants of a state with a wise ruler.^[5]^[6] If not performed within the cantata, the recitative is omitted.

Schafe können sicher weiden
Wo ein guter Hirte wacht.

Wo Regenten wohl regieren
Kann man Ruh' und Friede spüren
Und was Länder glücklich macht.

Sheep can safely graze
where a good shepherd watches over them.

Where rulers are ruling well,
we may feel peace and rest
and what makes countries happy.

Recordings

The work has often been recorded. It can be found in:

recordings of the complete cantata, for example:
- Bach: Secular Cantatas Vol. 2 (Hunting Cantata plus Die Zeit, die Tag und Jahre macht). Bach Collegium Japan, Joanne Lunn (soprano), Masaaki Suzuki (conductor).
compilation albums, for example albums featuring the following soloists:
- Emma Kirkby (soprano), (Emma Kirkby Collection)^[7]
- Magdalena Kožená (mezzo-soprano), (J. S. Bach: Arias with Musica Florea)
- Danielle de Niese (soprano), (Beauty of Baroque with the English Concert)
- Nuria Rial (soprano), (Bach Arias with the Kammerorchester Basel directed by Julia Schröder).

Arrangements

"Sheep may safely graze"

Instrumental arrangement by Kevin MacLeod

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$\relative c'' { \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"flute" \tempo 4 = 60 \clef "treble" \time 4/4 \key bes \major f8 f16( d) f8 f16( d) f8( g) g( bes) | es,8 es16( c) es8 es16( c) es8( a) a( c) | bes8~ bes32( c d16) bes( d) c( f,) bes8~ bes32\p( c d16) bes( d) c( f,) | bes8 d32\f( es f16) d( bes) c( a) bes8 d32\p( es f16) d( bes) c( a) | bes4 r r2 }$

$\relative c'' { \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"piano" \tempo 4 = 60 \clef "treble" \time 4/4 \key bes \major bes4 d8( c) c4. d8 |es4 g8( f) d4\trill c8( bes) | d( bes) a( g) c4. d8 | a4 g8( f) f2 }$

Keyboard

Piano

"Sheep may safely graze" was arranged for piano by the American composer Mary Howe.^[8] Another notable piano transcription was made by Dutch pianist Egon Petri, published in 1944.^[9]

Sometimes the piece is played as a duet (piano-four-hands); there are versions by Duo Petrof,^[10] and Lang Lang and Gina Redlinger [de] (released as a bonus track with Lang Lang's recording of the Goldberg Variations).

Moog synthesiser

American composer and electronic musician Wendy Carlos arranged and recorded "Sheep may safely graze" on a Moog synthesizer for her 1973 album Switched-On Bach II.

Band and orchestra

Australian-born composer Percy Grainger wrote "Blithe Bells" for elastic scoring in 1931 on Bach's "Sheep may safely graze".^[11]^[12] In March 1931, he scored a wind band version.^[13]

The piece was arranged for string orchestra by British composer Granville Bantock.^[14] There is also an orchestral arrangement by British composer Sir William Walton, part of the ballet score The Wise Virgins.

References

^ "A Bride's Guide: Sample Wedding Music Programme". Naxos. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
^ van Boer, Jr.; Bertil H (April 1980). "Observations on Bach's Use of the Horn Part I". Bach. 11 (2): 21–28. JSTOR 41640100.
^ Gayford, Martin (14 August 2002). "Clouds over the rural idyll". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 19 February 2018. Few words give as great a sense of reassurance as "and sheep may safely graze"
^ Leith, Sam (2013). "Feral, by Geoge Monbiot – review: Sam Leith enjoys a vision of Britain where sheep may no longer safely graze". The Spectator. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
^ "Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd!". University of Alberta (text) (in German). Retrieved 18 August 2022.
^ "Cantata BWV 208 Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd! English Translation [by Francis Browne] in Parallel Format". Bach Cantatas Website (text). Retrieved 21 February 2023.
^ "Emma Kirkby Collection". Gramophone. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
^ Schafe können sicher weiden = Sheep may safely graze, transcribed for two pianos by Mary Howe, Oxford University Press (1935) OCLC 5061704 ISBN 978-0-19-372212-5
^ Mark, Karsten (6 July 2008). "Klavierfestival Ruhr: Leon Fleisher spielt Bach". Dorstener Zeitung (in German). Dortmund. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
^ "Shazam". Shazam.
^ Blithe Bells (Grainger, Percy): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
^ "Blithe Bells". Schott Music (in German). Retrieved 24 September 2020.
^ "Blithe Bells". Wind Repertory Project. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
^ "Bach-Bantock: Arrangements/Transcriptions of Bach's Works – Works". www.bach-cantatas.com.

External links

[1] "A Bride's Guide: Sample Wedding Music Programme". Naxos. Retrieved 13 August 2016.

[Boer-2] van Boer, Jr.; Bertil H (April 1980). "Observations on Bach's Use of the Horn Part I". Bach. 11 (2): 21–28. JSTOR 41640100.

[3] Gayford, Martin (14 August 2002). "Clouds over the rural idyll". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 19 February 2018. Few words give as great a sense of reassurance as "and sheep may safely graze"

[4] Leith, Sam (2013). "Feral, by Geoge Monbiot – review: Sam Leith enjoys a vision of Britain where sheep may no longer safely graze". The Spectator. Retrieved 18 August 2022.

[5] "Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd!". University of Alberta (text) (in German). Retrieved 18 August 2022.

[6] "Cantata BWV 208 Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd! English Translation [by Francis Browne] in Parallel Format". Bach Cantatas Website (text). Retrieved 21 February 2023.

[7] "Emma Kirkby Collection". Gramophone. Retrieved 14 May 2018.

[8] Schafe können sicher weiden = Sheep may safely graze, transcribed for two pianos by Mary Howe, Oxford University Press (1935) OCLC 5061704 ISBN 978-0-19-372212-5

[9] Mark, Karsten (6 July 2008). "Klavierfestival Ruhr: Leon Fleisher spielt Bach". Dorstener Zeitung (in German). Dortmund. Retrieved 24 September 2020.

[10] "Shazam". Shazam.

[11] Blithe Bells (Grainger, Percy): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project

[12] "Blithe Bells". Schott Music (in German). Retrieved 24 September 2020.

[13] "Blithe Bells". Wind Repertory Project. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2020.

[14] "Bach-Bantock: Arrangements/Transcriptions of Bach's Works – Works". www.bach-cantatas.com.

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v t e Chamber music and orchestral works by, and transcriptions after, Johann Sebastian Bach
Solo	Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, BWV 1001–1006 Partita No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 Cello Suites, BWV 1007–1012 Partita for Solo Flute, BWV 1013
Ensemble	Six Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord, BWV 1014–1019 Sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord, BWV 1027–1029 Flute Sonatas in B minor, BWV 1030 in E♭ major, BWV 1031 (doubtful) in A major, BWV 1032 in C major, BWV 1033 (doubtful) in E minor, BWV 1034 in E major, BWV 1035 Trio Sonatas Sonata for two flutes and continuo, BWV 1039 Canonic Sonata for oboe, violin and continuo, BWV 1040
Concertos	Violin Concerto in A minor, BWV 1041 Violin Concerto in E major, BWV 1042 Concerto for Two Violins, BWV 1043 Triple Concerto, BWV 1044 Sinfonia for violin and orchestra, BWV 1045 Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046–1051 No. 5 Keyboard concertos, BWV 1052–1065 No. 1 in D minor, BWV 1052 No. 2 in E major, BWV 1053 No. 4 in A major, BWV 1055 For two harpsichords in C minor, BWV 1060
Suites	Orchestral Suites, BWV 1066–1069 Orchestral Suite in G minor, BWV 1070 (doubtful)
Fugal	The Musical Offering, BWV 1079 The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080 discography
Adaptations	"Air on the G String" "Alphabet" "Ave Maria" Bach-Busoni Editions "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" "Feel My Rhythm" "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" "Joy" "Lady Lynda" "Sheep may safely graze" "They" Trio Sonata, BWV 525a "A Whiter Shade of Pale"
Albums	Bach's Greatest Hits Back to Bach Jazz Sebastian Bach Switched-On Bach Switched-On Bach II
List of compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach