Schleicht, spielende Wellen, BWV 206

Schleicht, spielende Wellen (Glide, O sparkling waves and murmur softly), BWV 206, is a secular cantata composed by Johann Sebastian Bach in Leipzig and first performed on 7 October 1736.

History and text
Bach composed this cantata for the birthday of Augustus III of Poland and Elector of Saxony. It was first performed in Leipzig, Saxony, on 7 October 1736. A second performance took place on 3 August 1740.

The librettist of the work is unknown, but was likely Picander. The cantata is counted among the works Bach wrote for celebrations of Leipzig University, Festmusiken zu Leipziger Universitätsfeiern.

Scoring and structure
The cantata features four solo vocal parts, representing rivers: Pleiße (soprano), Donau (alto), Elbe (tenor), and Weichsel (bass). The cantata is also scored for four-part choir, three flutes, two oboes, two oboes d'amore, three trumpets, timpani, 1st and 2nd violins, violas, and basso continuo.

It has eleven movements:
 * 1) Chorus: Schleicht, spielende Wellen, und murmelt gelinde
 * 2) Recitative (bass): O glückliche Veränderung
 * 3) Aria (bass): Schleuß des Janustempels Türen
 * 4) Recitative (tenor): So recht! beglückter Weichselstrom
 * 5) Aria (tenor): Jede Woge meiner Wellen
 * 6) Recitative (alto): Ich nehm zugleich an deiner Freude teil
 * 7) Aria (alto): Reis von Habsburgs hohem Stamme
 * 8) Recitative (soprano): Verzeiht, Bemooste Häupter starker Ströme
 * 9) Aria (soprano): Hört doch! der sanften Flöten Chor
 * 10) Recitative (SATB): Ich muss, ich will gehorsam sein
 * 11) Chorus: Die himmlische Vorsicht der ewigen Güte

Recordings

 * Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir, Ton Koopman. J.S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 5. Erato, 1996.
 * Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart / Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Helmuth Rilling. Edition Bachakademie Vol. 64. Hänssler, 1994.
 * Kammerchor Stuttgart / Concerto Köln, Frieder Bernius. J.S. Bach Secular Cantatas BWV 206 & 207a. Sony Classical, 1990.
 * Ex Tempore Choir, Florian Heyerick / Musica Antiqua Köln, Reinhard Goebel BWV 36c, 201, 206, 207, Quodlibet BWV 524. Archiv Produktion 457 348-2, 1996 & 1997.