Composed for the Second Sunday after Trinity, which fell on June 18, 1724, Bach's Cantata No. 2 "Ach Gott, vom Himmel sich darein" (Ah God, look down from heaven) (BWV 2) sets a chorale by Martin Luther from 1524 as its choral outer movements and a text by an unknown author for its four central solo movements. The texts implore the help of God in keeping the saintly few safe against the heathen, the heinous, and the heretical. The cantata is scored for tenor, alto and bass soloists, chorus, pairs of oboes, strings, basso continuo, and a quartet of trombones supporting the chorus in the outer movements. The cantata is in D minor with its first, second, and sixth movements in the tonic, its third in B flat major, and its the fourth and fifth movements in G minor. The first movement is a baleful choral fugue with Luther's chorale appearing as a descant in the alto voice. The second movement is an anguished recitative preceded by a very brief Adagio for tenor soloist and continuo. The third movement is a cheerful aria in the form of a trio sonata for alto and violin soloists above the continuo. The fourth movement is an impassioned, accompanied recitative for bass strings and continuo that halfway through transforms into a sorrowful Arioso. The fifth movement is an accompanied aria for tenor with a pair of oboes joining the strings and continuo. "Ach Gott, vom Himmel sich darein" concludes with Luther's chorale for the chorus and entire orchestral ensemble. ~ James Leonard, All Music Guide
