J.S. Bach: Es erhub sich ein Streit, BWV 19 - The Church Cantatas, Vol. 144

BWV19 (29 September 1726) wastes no time in presenting the story of the fight between archangel Michael and Satan: repeated notes hammer out the fierceness of the battle which is stressed also by long runs on `Streit’. The twists of the snake are given to the word `rasende’ just before it. The da capo after Michael has won the field may seem strange, but the bass recitative removes any remaining doubt: the dragon lies defeated as is shown in the descending music. It is a reason for praise (a high `Gottlob’), even though we may sometimes still be terrified (`schrecket!’). Aquiet soprano aria sings of the hosts of angels that guard the christian from all evil. After a recitative the next aria starts with a magnificent melody for strings (using what has been called the `angel rhythm’) which is then sung by the tenor. The trumpet plays the chorale `O Gott lass dein lieb’ Engelein’ of St John Passion fame. A soprano recitative brings us to the final chorale; again there are angels, their victory stressed by th