Composed for the Feast of the Archangel Michael, which fell on September 29, 1726, Bach's Cantata No. 19 "Es erhub sich ein Streit" (There arose a fight) (BWV 19) sets a text by Picander with the final chorale by an anonymous poet from 1620. The cantata is scored for bass, soprano, and tenor soloists; chorus; and a large orchestra of three trumpets and tympani in the outer movements, a pair of oboes doubling a pair of oboe d'amore in the third movement, taille, strings, and basso continuo. "Es erhub sich ein Streit" is in celebratory C major, with its first movements in the tonic, its second and fifth movements in the minor mediant of E minor and its third movement in the dominant of G major. Its fourth starts in the minor submediant and ends on its dominant, which serves as the dominant of the fifth movement in E minor, and its sixth in the subdominant of F major. The first movement is a magnificent fugue in 6/8 time for chorus, for the most part doubled by the large orchestra. The second movement is a secco recitative for bass soloist and continuo and the third is a da capo aria in the form of a trio sonata for soprano soloist, a pair of oboe d'amore, and continuo. The fourth is recitative for tenor soloist, strings, and continuo and the fifth is an Adagio aria for tenor soloist, solo trumpet, strings, and continuo. The sixth movement is a brief secco recitative for soprano soloist and continuo. "Es erhub sich ein Streit" concludes with a harmonization of a 1620 chorale for chorus and full orchestra, with the trumpet ringing out above the chorale sopranos. ~ James Leonard, All Music Guide
