This is a chorale cantata based on a hymn by Johannes Gigas. The opening chorale fantasy “Ach, lieben Christen, seid getrost” begins with a powerful unison of two oboes and the first violin, followed by a moving collision of basso continuo and intense second violin figures. The soprano’s cantus firmus is overlaid with a corno, and the other voices sing a free antiphonal melody. The following tenor aria, “Wo wird diesem Jammertale” is a brilliant obbligato piece of flauto-traverso, and here we are fortunate to hear the virtuosity of Frans Brüggen. The first half of the piece is a moving performance of the sighing traverso’s mournful melody over a very restrained bass passage, and the second half turns into a vivace 12/8 time gigue before returning to the beginning with a da capo. The piece reminds me of the alto aria “Leget euch dem Heiland unter” from the Weimar period cantata No. 182 “Himmelskonig, sei willkommen”. Following the bass recitative, the soprano chorale “Kein Frucht das Weizenkörnlein bringt” is sung with only the bass ostentato accompaniment. This is followed by the alto aria “Du machst, o Tod, mir nun nicht ferner bange” with a single oboe and string accompaniment. The tenor recitative is followed by the chorale “Du machst, o Tod, mir nun nicht ferner bange” to conclude the cantata. #baroque #bach #cantata #片山俊幸 https://excelkobo.net/bachwerke/archive/BWV0114.pdf
