Bach: Cantata No. 2 “Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein” / Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Chorale cantata based on a hymn by Martin Luther. The first piece, “Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein” is a fugue alla breve chorale fantasy with strings and trombones over the chorus. The alto, a cantus firmus, is given double lenth in time, further enhanced by two oboes. The tenor recitative is followed by the alto aria “Tilg, o Gott, die Lehren” and the bass recitative is followed by the tenor aria “Durchs Feuer wird das Silber rein”. These are Luther’s lyrics, with the scriptwriter’s alterations. The final chorale, “Das wollst du, Gott, bewahren rein,” is sung simply, with Luther’s words and melody. #baroque #bach #cantata #片山俊幸