Bach: Cantata No. 91 “Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ” / Gustav Leonhardt

Christmas chorale cantata based on Martin Luther’s hymn, first performed in Leipzig on December 25, 1724. The first chorus, “Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ,” is somewhat unusual in that it features two horns, timpani, three oboes, strings, and basso continuo. The melody of the two horns is played in parallel throughout, and the other instruments provide accompaniment. In the chorus section, the soprano sings a chorale melody while the other voices sing a free counter-melody. The ascending scale with oboe and strings at the beginning of the piece also appears in the chorus part in the middle of the piece. In the following soprano recitative, the chorale melody appears four times in the piece. The tenor aria “Gott, dem der Erden Kreis zu klein” is accompanied by oboe obbligato. In the bass recitative with string accompaniment, the latter part of the arioso “dieses Jammertal (This valley of tears)” is sung in complex harmony with an uneasy ascending chromatic scale. The following duet aria “Die Armut, so Gott auf sich nimmt” between soprano and alto is one of the most charming piece in the cantata. The dotted-note ritornello played repeatedly in unison by the violins on the walking bass. The two soloists come in on it in suspention notes. The sound is reminiscent of the opening of Pergolesi’s “Stabat Mater”. The cantata ends with the chorale “Das hat er alles uns getan”. #baroque #bach #cantata #片山俊幸