J.S. Bach: Komm, du süße Todesstunde, BWV 161 - The Church Cantatas, Vol. 130

Cantata 161 ‘Komm, du süsse Todesstunde’, composed for the 16th Sunday after Trinity, is one of Bach’s most impressive cantatas. As far as we know it was written in Weimar in 1715 but not performed completely until 27 September 1716. The six-movement work requires two soloists (alto and tenor), four-part choir, two recorders, obbligato organ and basso continuo. The cantata begins with a chorale-based movement for alto soloist, recorders, organ and continuo, in which the final chorale ‘Herzlich tut mich verlangen’ is anticipated. The ‘sobbing’ motifs are remarkable, permeating even the basso continuo. According to the great Bach scholar Alfred Dürr each movement has its origin in the final chorale melody. In the last alto recitative (no. 4) the recorders and strings accompany the mortal soul realistically to its ‘sanften Schlaf’ (soft sleep). Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach Artists: Netherlands Bach Collegium, Pieter Jan Leusink (conductor), Holland Boys Choir, Sytse Buwalda (Alto), Ruth Ho