Composed for the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity, which fell on August 29, 1723, Bach's Cantata No. 25 "Es is nichts Gesundes an meinem Leibe" (There is no sin in my body) (BWV 25) sets Psalm 38:4 for its opening chorus and an anonymous text for the remainder of the work. The final chorale is by Johann Hermann. The cantata is scored for tenor, bass, and soprano soloists; chorus; three recorders; two oboes; strings; and basso continuo, plus coronet and three trombones in the opening and closing movements. "Es is nichts Gesundes an meinem Leibe" starts in Phrygian E minor in its first movement, moves to the minor subdominant A minor in the second, then the minor flat supertonic of D minor in its third. The fourth movement returns to the minor subdominant of A minor, but ends in C major, the tonality of the fifth movement and the final chorale. The first movement is a double fugue for chorus and full orchestra with a Phrygian chorale tune first stated in the continuo in the instrumental introduction and then line by line by the recorders and brass. The second movement is a secco recitative for tenor soloist and continuo. The third is an aria for bass soloist and continuo and the fourth is a second secco recitative for soprano soloist and continuo. The fifth is a da capo aria for soprano soloist accompanied by three recorders, oboes, strings, and continuo. "Es is nichts Gesundes an meinem Leibe" concludes with a simple harmonization of Hermann's chorale for chorus and full orchestra colla parte. ~ James Leonard, All Music Guide
