Composed for the Sunday after New Year, which fell on January 2, 1724, Bach's Cantata No. 153 "Schau, Lieber Gott, wie meine Feind" (See, dear God, how my foes) (BWV 153) sets texts from a variety of sources. The first movement is David Denicke's text from 1646, the fifth movement is Paul Gerhardt's from 1653, and the final movement is Martin Moller's from 1587. Although the cantata consists of nine movements, they are all quite brief with most lasting less than two minutes in performance and all lasting less than three minutes. "Schau, Lieber Gott, wie meine Feind" is lightly scored for alto, bass, and tenor soloists and chorus, strings, and basso continuo. "Schau, Lieber Gott, wie meine Feind" starts with its first and fifth movements in dismal E minor, its second and third movements in B minor, its fourth movement in D major, its sixth in grim A minor, its seventh and ninth movements in C major, and its eighth movement in G major. Thus, the first half of the cantata is set in tonalities around E minor while the second half of the cantata in is tonalities around C major. The first movement is a straight harmonization of Denicke's chorale for chorus and orchestra colla parte. The second is a secco recitative for soloist and continuo and the third is a triple-time aria for nimble bass soloist and continuo. The fourth is an expressive secco recitative for tenor soloist and continuo. The fifth a chromatic harmonization of Gerhardt's chorale for chorus and orchestra colla parte. The sixth is an extravagant aria for tenor soloist, highly embellished strings, and a striding continuo. The seventh is a secco recitative for ardent bass soloist and continuo. The eighth is a dancing triple-time aria for alto soloist, strings, and continuo. "Schau, Lieber Gott, wie meine Feind" concludes with a severe harmonization of Moller's chorale for chorus and orchestra colla parte.

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