J.S. Bach: Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4 - The Church Cantatas, Vol. 139

BWV4 is one of Bach’s earliest cantatas (24 April 1707?), and yet one of his masterpieces. It takes Luther’s Easter hymn `Christ lag in Todesbanden’ and uses all seven stanzas. It has a fine symmetrical structure: Chorus- Duet-Aria-Chorus-Aria-Duet-Chorus. A short sinfonia goes before which prepares for the hymn tune, almost hesitating to let it hear in full. The opening chorus is a fine chorale fantasia in which all chorale lines are prepared in the three lower voices before being sung complete by the soprano. At the word `fröhlich’ there is joy all round, intensified in the instrumental interlude. The alla breve `Hallelujah’ is exhilarating, the ecstatic violin high up joining in the feast The second verse is a superb soprano/alto duet. The repetition of `den Tod’ stresses that really no one can force death; the continuo figure is repeated time and again, and the two voice lines echo each other and then come together in a sublime way. The next verse has the tenor singing the tune, with violins playing