Bach's cantata BWV 125, based on Martin Luther's Nunc Dimittis paraphrase, combines intricate counterpoint with textual symbolism, such as chromatic harmonies for "death as sleep" and a unifying "Freudenmotiv" (joy motif) in the bass recitative.
This lively polonaise, part of the Anna Magdalena Notebook, showcases C.P.E. Bach's early style bridging Baroque and Classical eras. Its inclusion in the notebook (a family album) caused long-standing confusion with his father’s works.
Composed for the Feast of Purification in 1725, this chorale cantata masterfully sets Luther's meditation on death. Bach contrasts complex counterpoint with sudden moments of harmonic stillness, using chromatic modulations and piano dynamics to depict "death as sleep." The opening chorus features a haunting Phrygian-mode chorale tune in soprano, woven through intricate instrumental motifs symbolizing spiritual struggle and acceptance.
This contemplative alto aria from Bach's Purification cantata uses ornate vocal lines and expressive instrumentation to illustrate themes of divine light and acceptance of mortality. Notable features include chromatic harmonies for "sanft und stille" passages and a fragmented melody symbolizing "gebrochene Augen" (broken eyes).
