Bach: Cantata No. 199 “Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut” / Nikolaus Harnoncourt

This solo cantata for soprano, written in the Weimar period, consists of eight movements, and the text is by Georg Christian Lehms. It is one of two cantatas in the complete cantata works sung by a female soprano, the soloist being Barbara Bonney. The piece opens with a dramatic recitative with string orchestra. The following aria, “Stumme Seufzer, stille Klagen” is a beautiful and sad oboe melody, intertwined with a soprano voice. Hans Peter Westermann’s pianissimo performance is breathtaking. The end of the aria changes into a recitative, and back to the opening with a da capo. Following the recitative with strings, the aria “Tief gebückt und voller Reue” begins with a ritornello for strings, change into a pianissimo adagio and a da capo to the beginning. The recitative is followed by Johann Heermann’s chorale “Ich, dein betrübtes Kind” with viola obbligato. After the recitative with string orchestra, the aria “Wie freudig ist mein Herz” begins joyously with ritornello of a light Gigue rythm by oboe and string orchestra, and then cantata closes happily.　#baroque #bach #cantata #片山俊幸