Bach Cantata Notes

BWV 72

Cantata BWV 72 is one of the great bravura works from Bach’s time in Weimar. It opens with a brilliant and fiery chorus of great richness for both the singers and instrumentalists. The middle section is much quieter and more inward without changing the headlong tempo. The following alto recitative-arioso-aria is a complicated structure. The litany form ends with a brilliant and headlong aria with two solo violins. After a recitative the gorgeous and sweet soprano aria with oboe and string comes like a balm. Notice how Bach brings back the voice for the last heavenly phrase of the aria. “Was mein Gott will” ends the cantata on a quiet note.

©Craig Smith