Bach: Cantata No. 18 “Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee vom Himmel fällt” / Nikolaus Harnoncourt
A cantata from the Weimar period with an irregular instrumentation of four violas, bassoon, cello, and basso continuo (two recorders were added in later editions). In the first sinfonia, the melody is played mainly by the first and second violas over unison basso ostenato. Following the bass recitative, a recitativo accompagniato is sung by the tenor and bass in turn. A chorale melody is sung by the soprano, and the chorus joins it partially. The fourth piece is the soprano aria “Mein Seelenschatz ist Gottes Wort,” in which the four violas play an obbligato in unison. The piece closes with the chorale “Ich bitt, o Herr, aus Herzensgrund”. #baroque #bach #cantata #片山俊幸
