Cantata The Lively Hunt is All My Hearts Desire, BWV 208 (Johann Sebastian Bach)

Bach - Sheep may... safely graze ! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Sheep in danger!)

What an irony! (Scenes from the cartoon "Sheep Worrier" - YTuser "animaxy") Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd (The lively hunt is all my heart's desire), BWV 208, also known as the Hunting Cantata, is a secular cantata composed in 1713 by Johann Sebastian Bach for the 35th birthday of Prince Christian of Saxen-Weißenfels. Aria 5, "Schafe können sicher weiden" (or "Sheep may safely graze"), is perhaps the most familiar part of this cantata. A normal performance lasts for about forty minutes. Personnel and Instruments: Diana, soprano I Pales, soprano II Endymion, tenor Pan, bass Chorus 2 horns, 2 recorders, 2 oboes, English horn, bassoon, 2 violins, viola, cello, violone, and continuo. Aria: "Schafe können sicher weiden" (orig. in B flat major, for soprano II with 2 recorders and continuo) Australian-born composer Percy Grainger wrote several free rambles on Bachs Sheep may safely graze. He first wrote Blithe Bells, (as he called his free ramble), for elastic scoring between November 1930 and February 1931. In March 1931, he scored a wind band version. It became one of his most famous arrangements. (inf. from Wikipedia)


Online source: Cantata The Lively Hunt is All My Hearts Desire, BWV 208 (Johann Sebastian Bach) sheet music

Bach: Sheep May Safely Graze

Edith Hanselman, music director and organist of Strathroy United Church, plays JS Bach's "Sheep May Safely Graze" as the offertory during the June 1, 2008 Sunday Service. Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd (The lively hunt is all my heart's desire), BWV 208, also known as the Hunting Cantata, is a secular cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. Aria 5, "Schafe können sicher weiden" (or "Sheep may safely graze"), is perhaps the most familiar part of this cantata.