Motet: "Deus Miseratur" is from Schütz' Latin language collection of motets the "Cantiones Sacrae." While some of those works that we have been performed have been among the most Italianate of Schütz‚ works, this motet has a Germanic sobriety that gives it an interesting stylistic duality.

Cantata: Cantata BWV 27 begins with one of Bach's most compelling and deeply felt choruses. Sighing descending arpeggios in the strings are played against elaborate expressive oboe lines. The chorale is presented quite simply in the chorus but the work is punctuated by beautiful and expressive recitatives by the solo voices. A tenor recitative leads into the gorgeous and ecstatic alto aria with obbligato organ and English Horn. The soprano continues the theme of ecstasy at the prospect of leaving this world in the lovely recitative with strings. The bass aria with strings resembles in tone the great accompanied bass recitative at the end of the Matthew Passion "Am Abend aber daß es kühle war." The chorale is the only five-voice chorale setting in all of the cantatas and is actually not by Bach but a composer of the previous generation, Johannes Rosenmüller.

©Craig Smith

Translation