Sunday 30th November 2014 – 12pm – Duke’s Hall, Royal Academy of Music
Performed as Part of the Academy/Kohn Foundation Bach Cantata Series
Božidar Smiljanić – Bass-Baritone
Iain Ledingham – director
Margaret Faultless – leader
Performed on historical instruments
‘Siehe, ich will viel Fischer aussenden’ BWV 88 was written for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity (21st July 1726). The text, taken from the cycle of cantatas earlier set by Johann Ludwig Bach, concerns the Gospel story of the day, the calling of St Peter. It begins with a remarkable double ‘aria’ for the bass, representing the voice of God. In the first part the ‘fisherman’ text is reflected in the gentle lapping figures in the strings; the second part, referring to hunters, changes to a vigorous sporting style, complete with athletic horn calls. This vivid, motetlike approach to text setting also underpins the rest of the cantata, where expressive arioso predominates to an unusual degree.