J.S. Bach: The Church Cantatas, Vol. 2: Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats, BWV 42

An example of a real gem within Bach’s work is Cantata 42 ‘Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats’, composed for Sunday 8 April 1725, the 1st Sunday after Easter, otherwise known as Quasimodogeniti. This name originates from the opening text for Mass on this Sunday, Quasimodo geniti infantes, meaning ‘as new-born babes’. Bach commences the cantata with an instrumental Sinfonia somewhat reminiscent of the Brandenburg Concertos and probably based on a lost instrumental work. In this first movement the wind group (two oboes and bassoon) competes with a string group (two violins and viola). The cantata comprises seven movements: the opening sinfonia is followed by two recitatives, two arias and two chorales, firstly ‘Verzage nicht, du Häuflein klein’, and as final chorale ‘Verleih’ uns Frieden gnädiglich’. Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach Artists: Netherlands Bach Collegium, Holland Boys Choir & Pieter Jan Leusink (conductor) Online purchase or streaming (Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, Deezer, Google Play): Trackli