Composed for the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, which fell on January 30, 1735, Bach's Cantata No. 14 "War Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit" (If God were not with us at this time) (BWV 14) sets an anonymous text in its central movements that paraphrases a chorale by Martin Luther based on Psalm 124 used in the first and last movements. The cantata is scored for soprano, tenor, and bass soloists and chorus, corno da caccia, a pair of oboes, strings, and basso continuo. "War Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit" is in G minor with its first, fourth, and fifth movements in the tonic, its second movement in the relative major of B flat major, and its third movement starting in the tonic but ending on its minor dominant, thereby serving as a harmonic upbeat for the tonic of the fourth movement. Both outer movements end with picardy thirds. The first movement, marked Coro, is a gargantuan triple-time choral fugue with two subjects. The second movement is an aria for soprano soloist, full orchestra minus the oboes, and continuo. The third movement is an impassioned recitative for tenor soloist and sweeping continuo. The fourth movement is an aria in the form of a trio sonata for bass soloist, a pair of oboes, and continuo. "War Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit" concludes with a harmonization of the last verse of Luther's chorale for chorus and full orchestra colla parte. ~ All Music Guide
