Johann Christoph Bach
Es erhub sich ein Streit
JS Bach
Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir BWV 130
Es erhub sich ein Streit BWV 19
Man singet mit Freuden vom Sieg BWV 149
Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft BWV 50
The vivid story of the victory of the St Michael and his army of angels over those of the dragon Satan, told in the Book of Revelation, inspired Johann Sebastian Bach to great heights of invention. His 200-odd surviving cantatas must be considered as one of the greatest collections of musical art of any age, but those for the Feast of St Michael and All Angels (29th September) stand out even in this outstanding field.
The sheer vigour and thrill of the opening movements of Es erhub sich ein Streit BWV 19 and Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir BWV 130 set them apart. The bombast of the ‘old dragon, burning with envy’ is painted by the audacious combination of bass soloist with just continuo, three trumpets and timpani. And in the tenor aria ‘Bleibt, ihr Engel, bleibt bei mir’ (Stay, ye angels, stay by me), Bach weaves one of his most magical musical textures, a siciliana, for strings and clarino trumpet chorale, of almost unbearable beauty.
What better opportunity to include the most monumental work of JS Bach’s eminent forebear, Johann Christoph. His 22-part sacred concerto setting the words of Revelation, Es erhub sich ein Streit, deploys two choirs of five voices alongside 4 trumpets, timpani and multiple strings. Another highly inspiring source for the young Johann Sebastian.
