Composed for the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary, which fell on February 2, 1725, Bach's Cantata No. 125 "Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin" (With Peace and Joy I Go My Way) (BWV 125) sets Martin Luther's adaptation of the Roman Catholic Nunc Dimittis in its first, third, and sixth movements and paraphrases an expansion of Luther's adaptation in the second, fourth, and fifth movements. The cantata is scored for alto, bass, and tenor soloists; chorus; strings; and basso continuo with a pair of oboes d'amore in its first, second, and sixth movements and a solo trumpet doubling the choral soprano in its opening and closing chorales. "Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin" is in E minor with its first, fifth, and sixth movements in the tonic, its second movement in the minor dominant of B minor, its third starting in the tonic and ending in the minor dominant of B minor, and its fourth in the relative major of G major. The first movement is an expansive chorale fantasia in which the sopranos intone the hymn melody above the intricate counterpoint of the other voices while the orchestra elaborates the chorale parts. The second movement is an ornate and colorful triple-time da capo aria in the form of a trio sonata for alto soloist, transverse flute, oboe, and continuo. The third movement is a dramatic recitative for bass soloist and continuo with emphatic reiterations of a brief motive for the strings. The fourth is a highly wrought da capo duet aria for tenor and bass soloist accompanied by strings continuo. The fifth movement is an ardent secco recitative for alto soloist and continuo. "Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin" concludes with a chorale harmonization of Luther's Nunc Dimittis for chorus and full orchestra colla parte. ~ James Leonard, All Music Guide
