J.S. Bach: Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir, BWV 131 - The Church Cantatas, Vol. 133

Another very early cantata is BWV131 (1707/08), a setting of Psalm 130, De Profundis. The `Aus der Tiefe’ theme is present at once in the orchestral introduction, and is then sung many times in ever changing combinations of voices. The word `Rufe’ gets long sustaining notes. A vivace follows, homophonous at first, then with separate voices singing a prayer to God, with the word `Flehens’ effectively set. Then it is andante again, a recitative-like aria with chorale, the two texts commenting on each other as usual in such combinations. The next chorus once again starts with chords on `Ich harre des Herrn’ followed by intense climbing figures for alto and tenor and then a delightfully long fugue. The next duet `Meine Seele wartet’ combines free verse and a chorale again, indicating that what we are waiting for, is to be washed clean from our sins. The final chorus has the by now familiar homophonous entry, three dramatic cries of `Israel!’, followed by an allegro and another adagio with a bautiful oboe melo