This aria features a biblical call to charity (Hebrews 13:16) within Bach's sacred cantata. Composed for his third Leipzig cycle, it uniquely employs recorders to evoke humility - possibly their last appearance in his cantatas. The work reflects Baroque liturgical traditions with complex choral structures contrasted by simple solo movements.
This bass aria from Bach's sacred cantata BWV 39 expresses humility before God's gifts. Composed for Leipzig's Trinity Sunday, it features rare recorder symbolism representing poverty and need. The cantata is notable as Bach's final use of recorders in his cantatas.
Bach scored recorders in this cantata to represent themes of poverty and humility. Notably, BWV 39 is believed to be the last time he ever included recorders in his cantatas, making this work a unique endpoint in his instrumental choices for liturgical music.
Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot, BWV 39 (Break thy bread to the hungry), is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. Composed in Leipzig in 1726, it is a solo cantata for alto, tenor, and bass, with a closing four-part chorale. The text is based on a passage from the Book of Isaiah (58:7-8) and is structured in seven movements, including recitatives and arias. It was written for the first Sunday after Trinity.
