This week we are reposting music by J. S. Bach shared by Michael Barrett a few years ago. This post original ran on September 20, 2017.

Today let’s revisit Bach’s Cantata No.199. It’s a favorite of sopranos, for the obvious reason of the absolute beauty and gentleness of the central aria “Tief gebuckt und voller Reue”.  In the best Lutheran tradition, the text addresses God, admitting guilt and weakness, but implores God to be patient. This beautiful performance is sung by Magdalena Kozena and conducted by John Eliot Gardiner. I recommend his wonderful biography “Bach: Music in the Castle of Heaven”. It’s scholarly and gives the sense of what Bach’s life and work was really like.