BWV 44

There is a tough, almost hard-bitten quality about Bach Cantata BWV 44. The clangorous, hectoring tenor-bass duet with two obbligato oboes runs directly into an even more frenetic little chorus filled with paranoia and fear. The agitation is replaced in the alto aria with obbligato oboe by an almost catatonic dread.  The chorale for tenors and continuo is one of the strangest harmonizations in all of Bach. The soprano aria weakly tries for a brighter tone, but still has in its makeup a deeply troubled soul.  The beautiful harmonization of "Innsbruck, ich muss dich lassen" is the only hint at a benediction in the piece.

©Craig Smith