Bach: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140

Description

The three-verse hymn "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" was written by Philipp Nicolai and is first found in his "Der Freudenspiegel des ewigen Lebens". The poet of the other sections of the text is unknown. The verses of Nicolai's hymn determine the structure of the work: verse 1 opens the sequence of movements with a grand, spacious setting of the chorale for choir, verse 2 is at the centre with the chorale set in three parts, and verse 3 concludes the work with homophonic writing throughout. The verses are separated by recitative and duet twice.