The Significance of Bach

Bach's congregation was probably immediately able to associate the individual key phrases with their corresponding Biblical stories. How well did you do? They heard references to two stories from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament, from the books of Samuel and Chronicles as well as from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke (Matthew I 1: 28, Luke 18:13, Samuel 12:13, and Chronicles 33:12-13).

Likewise, Bach presumed a knowledge of the hymns of his day. He often cites chorale melodies in the instrumental parts-that is, without words-of movements with totally different texts. His congregation would have recognized these melodies instantly and put them into associative context. As an example, consider cantata BWV 70, Watch, Pray. There, in the orchestrally accompanied recitative "Ah, Shall Not This Great Day," a chorale appears in the trumpet. The trumpet here is intended to be a symbol of the last judgment. The meaning of its presence becomes apparent, however, only when one understands that the chorale being played, "It Is Certainly the Time That God's Son Shall Come," announces the event that is to occur immediately before the judgment of the world. I imagine that Bach's listeners understood this.

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