J.S. Bach: Was frag ich nach der Welt, BWV 94 - The Church Cantatas, Vol. 72

BWV94 is a lively chorale cantata (6 August 1724) in which the leading idea, `Was frag ich nach der Welt’, is illuminated from many sides. In the opening chorus the sopranos sing the chorale melody, the other voices following their lead. The key to the joyful musical material is the word WolluSt The fact that the world which is being denounced is at the same time painted so wonderfully is the central paradox of this cantata. The tenor aria further on in the work, with its celebration of the Lust und Freud which the text denounces as Eitelkeit, is another example. Before that the bass has sung about how this world vanishes like a vapour (lovely fleeting motive on Rauch), ending in the repeated taunting question: why should I look to the world? This is followed by a recitative plus chorale and an aria or alto in which the flute jumps up and down to illustrate the stupidity of this world. Another recitative with chorale and the tenor aria already referred to lead to a final aria, this time for soprano, rathe