Compiled and composed for the Name Day of August III, elector of Saxony and king of Poland, which fell on August 3, 1734, Bach's Cantata No. 207a "Auf, schmetternde Töne der muntern Trompeten" (Blare forth, proud trumpets) (BWV 207a) is a festive secular cantata on the grandest scale. Most of the work is taken from a pre-existing cantata, Vereingte Zwietracht der wechselnden Saiten (BWV 207) of 1727, and fitted with a new, anonymous libretto: movements 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 12 are all borrowed. In addition, the second movement's choral fantasia is an adaptation of the third movement of Bach's first Brandenburg Concerto (BWV 1046), and the seventh movement's Ritornello is adapted from the first trio from the concluding movement of the same concerto. The cantata is lushly scored for tenor, bass, soprano, and alto soloists and chorus, pairs of flutes and oboes, a trio of trumpets, tympani, strings, lute, and harpsichord continuo with bassoon, cello, and double bass.

"Auf, schmetternde Töne der muntern Trompeten" begins and ends with a brief march. The cantata proper opens with a magnificent hymn of praise for chorus and full orchestra, with the trumpets and tympani to the fore. The third-movement secco recitative is set for tenor, cello, and lute; it gives way to a quick, minor-keyed aria. The fifth movement is a duo secco recitative for bass and soprano soloists and continuo, followed by the same two voices in a lyrical duet. The seventh movement is a brief, but brilliant, instrumental Ritornello. The eighth and ninth movements are a secco recitative for alto soloist, cello, lute, and harpsichord, and a warm aria for alto, dulcet flutes obbligato, strings, and continuo. The tenth movement is an extended recitative for all four soloists, plus flutes, strings, and continuo. The eleventh movement closes the cantata proper with a second choral hymn of praise for chorus and full orchestra, and the work concludes with a recapitulation of the opening march.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide