How did Bach musically depict the metaphor of roses and thorns in this cantata aria? Learn!
Who's behind the notes? Discover Johann Sebastian Bach: Master of Baroque Music
This aria originates from Bach's sacred cantata BWV 86, composed for the fifth Sunday after Easter (Rogate). It features an alto voice accompanied by virtuosic violin figuration in the original scoring, symbolizing the tension between divine promise and earthly struggle through the metaphor of gathering roses amidst thorns. The work exemplifies Bach's intricate fusion of theological concepts with expressive musical imagery characteristic of the Baroque cantata tradition.