Bach's Music for Angels

Published September 24, 2023 at 2:23 PM EDT

St. Michael stained glass at St. Rochus, Duisdorf-Bonn, Germany — St. Michael and the dragon in stained glass from St. Rochus Church, Duisdorf, Germany,

On The Bach Hour, the composer's Cantata No. 19, for St. Michael and All Angels, expresses a terrifying, visceral quality of battle, and a hope for protection and safety.

On the program:

Sonata in E for violin and harpsichord, BWV 1016 - Viktoria Mullova, violin, and Ottavio Dantone, harpsichord

Cantata BWV 19 Es erhub sich ein Streit (translation) - Malin Hartelius, soprano; James Gilchrist, tenor; Peter Harvey, bass; Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner, conductor

Fantasia and Fugue in A minor, BWV 944 - Angela Hewitt, piano

Brandenburg Concerto No. 9 (after BWV 11 and 34, arr. Bruce Haynes) - Montreal Baroque Band, Eric Milnes, conductor