• Fifth Sunday after Trinity
• Epistle: 1 Peter iii. 8-15 (Be patient in affliction)
• Gospel: Luke v. 1-11 (The miraculous draught of fishes)
• Rating: 2

The opening bass aria of this cantata displays two of Bachs most attractive devices, pedal bass and compound duple time. Indeed, swinging along nicely, this is the most attractive movement in this piece, reinforcing very effectively the message of the libretto. A recitative is followed by a tenor aria, attractive but not outstanding, which brings the first half of this short cantata to a close. The second part opens with an attractive figure leading into a bass arioso. The following duet for soprano and alto is pleasant enough but not truly memorable and, following a recitative, the cantata is brought to a close by a straightforward setting of a very beautiful chorale, verse vii. of Neumark's Wer nur den lieben Gott lasst walten.

Copyright © 1996 & 1998, Simon Crouch.