J.S. Bach: Man singet mit Freuden vom Sieg, BWV 149 - The Church Cantatas, Vol. 116

Cantata 149 ‘Man singet mit Freuden vom Sieg’, like Cantata 130 ‘Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir’ on the previous cd, was written for Michaelmas 29 September, the feast of the archangel Michael, when his fight with the dragon is commemorated. Cantata 149 was composed for the 1728 or 1729 cycle. The subject of this work is the triumph of the angels over Satan rather than the fight between Michael and the dragon. Thus the generally festive character of the work. The jubilant opening chorus in 3/8 time is an arrangement of the final chorus of the hunt cantata BWV208, a most appropriate association. The two horns in the original scoring are replaced here by three trumpets and timpani. In the following bass aria in B minor God’s strength resounds in a most agile vocal part. After two recitatives and two arias the work concludes with a simple chorale. Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach Artists: Netherlands Bach Collegium, Pieter Jan Leusink (conductor), Holland Boys Choir, Bas Ramselaar (Basso), Sytse Buwalda