Bach: Cantata No. 39 “Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot” / Gustav Leonhardt

The long chorus “Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot” opens with an impressive orchestration, the group of two recorders, two oboes, two violins, and a viola taking turns playing two eighth notes, supported by the staccato basso continuo. The piece gradually builds in tension, turning to a four-beat section before leading into a fugue in three-eighths time. Following the bass recitative, the alto aria “Seinem Schöpfer noch auf Erden” is sung in obbligato by the violin and oboe, the two instruments and vocals intertwining equally in a beautiful melody. This concludes the first part of the cantata.

The second part begins with the bass aria “Wohlzutun und mitzuteilen vergesset nicht”. The bass imitates the melody following the ritornello by the basso continuo. The soprano aria “Höchster, was ich habe” that follows is one of the most charming in the cantata. The use of two recorders in perfect unison is a favorite technique of Bach’s, as in “Ich folge dir gleichfalls mit freudigen Schritten” from the John Passion. Following the alto recitative, the cantata ends with the chorale “Selig sind, die aus Erbarmen”. #baroque #bach #cantata #片山俊幸 https://excelkobo.net/bachwerke/archive/BWV0039.pdf