Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich, BWV 150

A newly engraved vocal score carefully edited and revised from Raphael's reduction issued in conjunction with Bach Gesellschaft edition. One of Bach's earliest extant works (dated 1708 or 1709), this cantata was likely influenced by the those of Dietrich Buxtehude. The opening string sinfonia is follwed by a short opening chorus in motet style. After a brief attractive aria (for soprano), another chorus, also in motet style, commences with an ascending scale after which the line is handed off brilliantly between the various parts. This is followed by a trio for alto, tenor and bass and another chorus featuring a fugal finale. The last movement is a choral chaconne that so impressed Johannes Brahms (one of the few original subscribers to the Bach Gesellschaft edition) that he quoted the bass line in last movement of his "Symphony No. 4." All in the space of a little over fifteen minutes.