Bach: Cantata No. 178 “Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält” / Nikolaus Harnoncourt
This chorale cantata is based on the chorale of Justus Jonas. The choral chorale “Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält” begins with intense dotted notes, but it seems that the instrument Corno da Caccia mentioned in the liner notes was not included in the orchestra. The second is a solo alto movement with chorale melodies alternating with recitative. The following aria “Gleichwie die wilden Meereswellen” by the bass is followed by a violin unison obbligato, which represents the rough waves of the sea. The next aria is a tenor aria accompanied by two oboes d’amore, and the chorale melody is sung as is. The following “chorale and recitative” are sung in four voices over the basso continuo’s arpeggio chords, and the recitatives that connect the lines of the chorale are one after another by bass, tenor and alto. The tenor aria “Schweig, schweig nur, taumelnde Vernunft!” is music of intense emotion accompanied by chromatic modulations and tense. The cantata closes with the four-part chorale “Die Feind sind all in deiner Hand”. #baroque #bach #cantata #片山俊幸
