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BWV41 (for New Year’s Day 1725), richly scored for three trumpets, three oboes and strings, is based on the very long chorale `Jesu, nun sei gepreiset’. Not only is this hymn quite long, but many of the lines are repeated. Bach achieves variety in changing the scoring of the different parts, and the tempo as well. Still, many fine runs are repeated; but we don’t mind: the final result is a memorable and splendid chorus. Three oboes accompany the soprano in its aria, a fleeting melody the first part of which is sung twice by the soprano before being varied over fragments of the introduction in the accompaniment. Easily as peaceful and warm is the tenor aria, which follows a fine alto recitative. The violoncello piccolo plays a wonderfully long line, some of the long descending runs probably indicative of the awaited blessings coming down. The middle part stresses that blessings on earth are not the be-all and end-all: the high notes on `dort’ speak for themselves. It remains a mystery how millions upon million
