Guest
The six-movement Advent Cantata 62 ‘Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland’ is part of the 1724 cycle of chorale cantatas. It is framed by two choral movements based on the world-famous chorale ‘Nun komm der Heiden Heiland’, the text of which is Luther’s translation of the hymn Veni, redemptor gentium. In the opening chorus the melody is heard in the soprano and the accompanying horn part. In the context of Advent ( = coming or arrival) the crucial word is ‘komm’. Two aria-recitative pairs follow. In the bass recitative No.3 Bach illustrates the word ‘laufen’ realistically with a scale figure, and the word ‘Gefall’ne’ with a descending seventh. Quite appropriate to the pastoral mood of Advent and the image of the child in a cradle is the rocking siciliano rhythm of the tenor aria No.2. In the bass aria, in fighting spirit, Bach creates a continuo part in parallel movement with the high strings. Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach Artists: Netherlands Bach Collegium, Pieter Jan Leusink (conductor), Holland Boys Ch
