Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)

“Komm, du süße Todesstunde”

(Come, sweet hour of death)

BWV 161


Event:
Cantata for the 16th Sunday after Trinity
[also for the Feast of Purification of Mary]

Readings:
Epistle: Ephesians 3: 13-21; Gospel: Luke 7: 11-17
[Epistle: Malachi 3: 1-4; Gospel: Luke 2: 22-32]

Musical Context of Bach Cantatas:
Motets & Chorales for 16th Sunday after Trinity
[Motets & Chorales for Feast of Purification of Mary]

Composed:
Weimar, 1716

1st performance: September 27, 1716 - Weimar
2nd performance: Unknown date in Leipzig period

Text:
Salomo Franck (Mvts. 1-5)
Christoph Knoll (Mvt. 6)

Scoring:
Soloists: Alto, Tenor; 4-part Chorus
Orchestra: 2 recorders, strings, organ continuo


Mvt. 1: Aria w/ Chorale (00:00)
Mvt. 2: Recitative (05:24)
Mvt. 3: Aria (07:27)
Mvt. 4: Recitative (12:27)
Mvt. 5: Chorus (14:56)
Mvt. 6: Chorale (17:49)


Alto: Yoshikazu Mera
Tenor: Makoto Sakurada

Bach Collegium Japan

Masaaki Suzuki

Feb, Jun, Jul 1997, at the Kobe Shoin Women's University Chapel, Japan.