Bach: Cantata No. 95 “Christus, der ist mein Leben” / Nikolaus Harnoncourt
The first movement is consists with two chorales interspersed with recitative. The chorale “Christus, der ist mein Leben” is sung over a syncopated three-beat light rhythm. The cantus firmus is overlaid with a corno (slide trumpet). It is not clear what instrument is referred to in Bach’s score as “corno” only. It could be a slide trumpet or slide horn, or it could be something else (such as a zink). Harnoncourt seems to have chosen the slide trumpet here. A tenor arioso begins in the middle of the piece and change into recitative, but it is interrupted several times with the syncopated pattern of the beginning of the piece. The piece ends with the chorale “Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin”. Following the soprano recitative, the chorale “Valet will ich dir geben” is sung by the soprano, accompanied by the oboe d’amore (unison) on a basso continuo of dispersed chords. After the tenor recitative, the tenor aria “Ach, schlage doch bald, selge Stunde” is sung by two oboes d’amore and a string pizzicato that imitates the sound of chime (death knell). This aria shows Bach’s haunting sense of orchestration. Following the bass recitative, the cantata closes with the chorale “Weil du vom Tod erstanden bist”. #baroque #bach #cantata #片山俊幸
