Bach Cantata Notes

BWV 22

Cantata BWV 22 is one of the two cantatas written for his audition for the job of Cantor at Leipzig. It opens with a brief tenor description of Jesus gathering the disciples. Jesus then describes their journey up to Jerusalem. The halting and static chorus perfectly illustrates the disciples' lack of understanding about what will happen. The alto aria with oboe obbligato personalizes the journey. The bass recitative quotes from the chorale "Was frag ich nach der Welt" and later "Ein feste Burg," and describes the rush to Golgatha. The refulgent tenor aria lightens the tone of the cantata and further illustrates the Christian's joy in his own salvation. An accompanied setting of the chorale "Herr Christ, der einig Gottes Sohn" ends the cantata.

©Craig Smith