Chorales are not nearly so prominent in Schütz as in Bach. When they are the basis for a motet in Schütz they are always something special. "So fahr ich hin" is so subtle and exquisitely colored that the tune itself is mostly disguised. What remains is an amazing pure rendering of the moving text. Notice how the music stretches out at the description of the arm stretching. The dropping of the harmony at the mention of "sleep" is unbearably poignant. On a personal note, I believe that if I were on a desert island and could chose only one Schütz piece, this would be the one.

Bach Cantata BWV 106 is his first great cantata and remains one of his most touching pieces. Written for the funeral of his uncle, it has a personal and passionate quality unique in his output. It is scored for the unusual combination of two recorders two violas da gamba and continuo. This soft-edged instrumental combination produces not only instrumental but vocal writing of the utmost delicacy and refinement. As is usual in Bach early works there are not set arias and choruses but everything is blended together into a large arc.

©Craig Smith

Translation for this Cantata