For November 1, All Saints Day, one hopes for a cantata such as this, for it reaches out to the image of the Good Shepherd, the one who has promised to deal kindly with loss through death. Bach writes four very moving arias, each distinct, each with its own charm, and each contributing to a fulsome whole. The resulting sense of satisfaction allowed him to dispense with any thought of large scale choral additions. At hand are virtuosic writing for the piccolo cello, the rewarding sound of oboes dueting around a well-known hymn tune, and one section that, with its warmth and intimacy, has been called "one of the most impressive arias" in all the literature.
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