Composed for the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity, which fell on October 8, 1724, Bach's Cantata No. 96 "Herr Christ, der einge Gottessohn" (Lord Christ, the only Son of God) (BWV 96) sets a chorale by Elisabeth Creutziger in its first and sixth movements and an anonymous text in its other movements based on the Gospel According to Matthew 22, 34-46. Although the text is predominantly concerned with the typically Lutheran notion of the afflictions of the world and a yearning for death, Bach's music is surprisingly cheerful with only one movement in a minor tonality. The cantata is scored for alto, tenor, soprano and bass soloists, chorus, piccolo flute, transverse flute, a pair of oboes, strings, and basso continuo, plus trombone in the final chorale. "Herr Christ, der einge Gottessohn" is overwhelmingly in pastoral F major with its first, second, fourth, and sixth movements in the tonic; its third movement in the dominant of C major; and its fifth movement in the relative minor of D minor. The first movement is a huge choral fantasia on Creutziger's hymn in 9/8, with an agile piccolo flute soloing above the oboes, strings, and continuo while the chorus creates elaborate counterpoints. The second movement is secco recitative for alto soloist and continuo. The third movement is a cheerful da capo aria in the form of a trio sonata for transverse flute, alto, and continuo. The fourth movement is a very restrained secco recitative for soprano and continuo. The fifth movement is a purposeful bass aria lushly accompanied by full orchestra. "Herr Christ, der einge Gottessohn" concludes with a harmonization of the last verse of Creutziger's chorale for the entire chorus and orchestra.

© All Music Guide

Portions of Content Provided by All Music Guide.
© 2008 All Media Guide, LLC. All Music Guide is a registered trademark of All Media Guide, LLC.