J.S. Bach: Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren, BWV 137 - The Church Cantatas, Vol. 126

BWV137 (19 August 1725?) is a chorale cantata on the hymn `Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren’. The hymn tune appears in all five movements. The opening chorus starts with a very vivid orchestral introduction, with three trumpets, timpani, oboes and strings. It has no connection with the chorale other than illustrating the festive mood: the King of honours receiving well-deserved praise. The joy rhythm ta-ta-tam ta-ta-tam is employed and the trumpets play a signal worhty of a king. The final line is `lasset die Musicam hören’ and this is exactly what Bach is doing. An alto aria follows with a violin going up and down (indicative of the eagle’s wings of the text?) while the alto sings a decorated form of the chorale melody. Soprano and bass take over, singing about how we have been created skilfully and beautifully by God. The duet itself can rightfully be called `künstlich und fein’ too; the oboe motive returns in the voices in a simplified form, there is a long coloratura on `