J.S. Bach: Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz, BWV 138 - The Church Cantatas, Vol. 129

A very special and exceptional work is Cantata 138 ‘Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz?’, written for the 15th Sunday after Trinity, 5 September 1723. The structure in particular is most unusual. The first three movements offer a continuous and free alternation of chorale lines and recitatives. In the first movement, for instance, the first verse of the chorale is suddenly interrupted after three lines by an alto solo ‘Ach, ich bin arm, mich drücken schwere Sorgen’. The third movement begins with a chorale verse which is cut off half way by two recitatives, one for the soprano and one for the alto, after which the verse is completed. The cantata does not conclude with the customary simple chorale, but with a movement in which the chorale lines alternate with instrumental phrases for two oboes and two virtuosic violins. Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach Artists: Netherlands Bach Collegium, Pieter Jan Leusink (conductor), Holland Boys Choir, Sytse Buwalda (Alto), Ruth Holton (Soprano), Knut Sch