A Festive Tribute

A Festive Tribute is an arrangement of a splendid chorus whichBach first used in the secular Cantata 207 of 1726, but is perhapsbetter known in its later version, which appears in Cantata 207a, thedescriptively titled Auf, schmetternde Töne der muntern Trompeten,which cannot be adequately translated but means something alongthe lines of ‘let the trumpets sound’. While the lyrics are perhaps alittle obsequious, much of the music for this cantata is celebratoryand lushly scored for a large orchestra including trumpets, oboesd’amore and flutes, making it an ideal piece for a concert bandarrangement.