Bach Cantata Notes
BWV 149
Today’s cantata dates from Bach's third season in Leipzig. It was written
for the festival of St. Michael celebrated on September 29th. This is
the only day in the Liturgical year where the principal reading is from
Revelation. The vivid and imaginative rendering of the battle between
St. Michael and Satan always brings from Bach his most glorious and
brazen music. This holiday is the only one of the year when all of the
cantatas call for trumpets and drums in addition to the usual oboes
and strings.For all of its brilliance, this is the most interior of
all of the Michaelmass cantatas. The opening chorus is an airborn heavenly
thing with the trumpets providing a silvery brilliance rather than their
usual military overtones. The bass aria provides a vivid depiction of
Satan‚s fall to hell. The soprano aria provides a new tone to the cantata.
Here the sweetness of the depiction of the Angels is surpassingly warm
and loveable. The duet for alto and tenor with sparkling bassoon obbligato
is another highpoint of this wonderful cantata. The bassoon provides
the perfect picture of the lonely watchman making his rounds. The work
ends with a beautiful harmonization of the heavenly chorale, “Herzlich
lieb.”
©Craig Smith