This aria from Bach's Ascension cantata BWV 37 exemplifies his theological depth through contrapuntal mastery, blending three symbolic melodic lines representing faith's facets. The absence of trumpets/horns (unusual for a feast day) creates intimate devotion rather than triumphalism.
This chorale concludes Bach's Ascension cantata BWV 37, focusing on justification by faith alone—a core Lutheran tenet. Its humble scoring (oboes d'amore, strings, continuo) contrasts with Bach's later festive Ascension works. The melody embodies a prayerful plea for faith, typical of Bach's theological depth in chorales.
This chorale originates from J.S. Bach's cantata BWV 37, composed for the Feast of the Ascension in 1724. Unlike his later festive Ascension works, this cantata features modest scoring focused on woodwinds and strings. Bach masterfully wove three distinct melodic motifs into the opening movement: one suggesting steadfast faith, another reflecting Luther's Ten Commandments melody, and a third from the hymn "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern." The chorale appears in an Italianate concerto style, with harmonic changes directly responding to the text's meaning.
This aria comes from Bach's cantata BWV 37 "Wer da gläubet und getauft wird", composed for Ascension Day. The aria "Der Glaube schafft der Seele Flügel" (Faith creates wings for the soul) features a beautiful melodic line that seems to soar upward, possibly representing the soul's ascension. Typical of Bach's religious works, the music perfectly complements the theological message of the text, with the horn and strings creating a celestial atmosphere that supports the theme of spiritual elevation through faith.
Composed for the Feast of the Ascension in 1724, BWV 37 is Bach's first cantata for this occasion. Surprisingly, it is scored modestly with only two oboes d'amore added to the strings and continuo, unlike his later, more festive Ascension cantatas. The opening chorus features a complex structure with three simultaneous motifs representing different aspects of faith.
