Composed for Sexagesima Sunday, which fell on February 4, 1725, Bach's Cantata No. 126 "Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort" (Sustain us, Lord, with your word) (BWV 126) sets a chorale of Martin Luther in its first and third movements and a chorale by Johann Walter for its sixth and final movement; the remaining movements set anonymous texts paraphrasing Luther's chorale and on the Gospel According to Luke (8 4-15). Taking Luther's minatory text as the basis for his militant music, the cantata is scored for tenor, alto and bass soloists, chorus, a concertante trumpet in the opening movement, a pair of oboes, strings, and basso continuo. "Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort" is in A minor, with its first and final movements in the tonic, its second and third in the minor subdominant of E minor, its fourth in the relative major of C major, and its fifth starting in the tonic of A minor and closing in the minor subdominant of D minor. The cantata's first movement is essentially a trumpet concerto with full orchestral accompaniment interspersed with verses of Luther's chorale for chorus. The second movement is an aria in the form of a trio sonata for tenor and two obbligato oboes above a walking continuo bass. The third movement is a secco recitative for soprano alternating with a more lyrical Adagio for tenor soloists with both soloists joining together for the closing Adagio. The fourth movement is an aggressive da capo aria for bass with forceful continuo. The fifth movement is a secco recitative for tenor and organ continuo. "Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort" concludes with a harmonization of Walter's chorale for chorus and full orchestra colla parte. ~ All Music Guide
