Sinfonia from BWV 156
Johann Sebastian Bach, arr. Ben Tordoff
Composed:
1729 Arranged:
2022 Grouping:
SAATBb Duration:
01:50
Written for the third Sunday after Epiphany (late January) Bach's cantata BWV 156 is best known for this opening Sinfonia, possibly taken from an earlier (and now lost) oboe concerto. The theme was also later re-used with significant embellishments for a harpsichord concerto but this version presents the tune simply. The cantata bears the rather melancholy title "Ich steh mit einem Fuß im Grabe" (I am standing with one foot in the grave) and likely refers to Jesus's healing of a leper - one of the prescribed readings for this Sunday.
Our arrangement puts the oboe solo on soprano sax with a quintet of lower saxes as backing. It is straightforward to play but an effective and expressive piece.
© 2022 Ben Tordoff
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