Schleicht, spielende Wellen (Glide, O sparkling waves and murmur softly), BWV 206,[a] is a secular cantata composed by Johann Sebastian Bach in Leipzig and first performed on 7 October 1736.
Bach composed this cantata for the birthday of Augustus III of Poland and Elector of Saxony.
[1] The cantata is counted among the works Bach wrote for celebrations of Leipzig University, Festmusiken zu Leipziger Universitätsfeiern.
[2] The cantata features four solo vocal parts, representing rivers: Pleiße (soprano), Donau (alto), Elbe (tenor), and Weichsel (bass).
[b] 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.