J.S. Bach: Gottlob! Nun geht das Jahr zu Ende, BWV 28 - The Church Cantatas, Vol. 148

BWV28 for the Sunday after Christmas (30 December 1725) celebrates the new year and prays for happiness in it. The delightful orchestral introduction is taken up by the soprano, the solo violin constantly being answered by the orchestra: a `frohes Danklied’ indeed. Then the choir comes in with an elaborate motet on the chorale `Nun lob, mein Seel’, den Herren’. The sopranos sing the chorale melody, the other voices sometimes singing elements of the tune, sometimes free material, in endless variety. A bass recitative with arioso is followed by another one for tenor with strings, in which the repeated word `lauter’ (only goodness, only grace, only blessing) is beautifully stressed, as is the fact that in God we have everything. The alto/tenor duet sings of the blessings of the past year, with long coloraturas on `gesegnet’ and `begegnet’; in the continuo we see the blessings come down from heaven. A richly orchestrated chorale ends this lovely cantata. Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach Artists: Netherla