Composed for the seventh Sunday after Trinity, which fell on July 23, 1724, Bach's Cantata No. 107 "Was willst du dich betrübern" (What will you grieve) (BWV 107) sets a text by Johann Heermann of 1630. Like most cantata texts, Heermann's traces the path from earthly pain and suffering to the faith in heavenly salvation. The cantata is scored for bass, tenor, and soprano soloists and chorus, a pair of transverse flutes, a pair of oboe d'amore, strings, and basso continuo, plus trumpets doubling the chorale sopranos in the outer movements. "Was willst du dich betrübern" is in bleak B minor with its first, fifth, and seventh movements in the tonic; its second movement in the minor dominant of F sharp minor; its third movement in the dominant's relative major of A major; its fourth movement in the minor subdominant; and its sixth movement in the relative major of D major. The first movement is a spacious chorale fantasia with the choral sopranos taking the chorale melody, but with both the other choral voices and the instruments pursuing independent parts. The second is an exquisitely scored recitative for melismatic bass soloist, a pair of oboe d'amore, and continuo. The third is a Vivace aria for virtuoso bass soloist, obbligato first violins, strings, and powerful continuo. The fourth is an aria for tenor soloist and solo organ continuo. The fifth is a gracious aria in 12/8 time for soprano, an agile pair of oboe d'amore, and staccato continuo. The sixth is a delicately scored aria for tenor soloist, transverse flute doubled by muted first violins, and pizzicato continuo. "Was willst du dich betrübern" concludes with a chorale harmonization in 6/8 for chorus and independent full orchestra. ~ All Music Guide
