J. S. Bach: Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren, BWV 137 The Church Cantatas, Vol. 126

BWV137 (19 August 1725 ) is a chorale cantata on the hymn Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren. The hymn tune appears in all five movements. The opening chorus starts with a very vivid orchestral introduction, with three trumpets, timpani, oboes and strings. It has no connection with the chorale other than illustrating the festive mood: the King of honours receiving welldeserved praise. The joy rhythm tatatam tatatam is employed and the trumpets play a signal worhty of a king. The final line is lasset die Musicam hören and this is exactly what Bach is doing. An alto aria follows with a violin going up and down (indicative of the eagles wings of the text ) while the alto sings a decorated form of the chorale melody. Soprano and bass take over, singing about how we have been created skilfully and beautifully by God. The duet itself can rightfully be called künstlich und fein too; the oboe motive returns in the voices in a simplified form, there is a long coloratura on