Bach: Cantatas, Vol. 06: Köthen/Frankfurt

With the thirteenth release the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage moves on to Köthen and Frankfurt. Bach arrived in Köthen as 'Kapellmeister and director of our chamber music' in 1717. Köthen provides one of the most cheerful programmes of the whole Trinity season. After so many consecutive weeks of fire and brimstone comes the huge relief of three genial, celebratory pieces. The opening chorus of BWV 69a Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele is freely composed and on the grandest scale. Bach is exultant, profiting from the colour contrasts available from the three groupings of his orchestra (brass, woodwind and strings).

In 1725 Bach came up with another winner, BWV 137 Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren It is a comparative rarity, his first cantata to have been constructed as a series of chorale variations in over twenty years. The highlight of the Frankfurt programme arguably is BWV 77 Du sollt Gott, deinen Herren lieben. Once again Bach does not disappoint. Here is one of those breathtaking, monumental opening choruses that defy rational explanation.