Johann Sebastian Bach

Falsche Welt, dir trau ich nicht (False world, I don't trust you), BWV 52, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed the solo cantata for soprano in Leipzig for the 23rd Sunday after Trinity and it was first performed on 24 November 1726.

Bach composed the cantata, a solo cantata for a soprano, in 1726 in Leipzig for the 23rd Sunday after Trinity. The prescribed readings for the Sunday were from the Epistle to the Philippians, "our conversation is in heaven" (Philippians 3:17–21), and from the Gospel of Matthew, the question about paying taxes, answered by "Render unto Caesar..." (Matthew 22:15–22). The unknown poet takes from the gospel the idea that the world is false and that man should concentrate on God. He refers to the murder of Abner by Joab, described in 2 Samuel 3:27, as an example for the world's falseness. The closing chorale is the first verse of Adam Reusner's "In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr" (1533). The beginning line is the last idea of the "Te Deum". Bach used verse 4 of the chorale, "Mir hat die Welt trüglich gericht't", in his St Matthew Passion.

The cantata is set for just one singer, but the instrumentation is rich. Similar to other cantatas of the later Leipzig period, Bach used an instrumental movement from an earlier period as a sinfonia, in this case the opening movement of his first Brandenburg Concerto, dominated by horns and oboes, in its early version without a violino piccolo. In the first aria the soprano is accompanied by two violins, in the second aria of dance character, by three oboes.

The two horns of the sinfonia return in the closing chorale, horn 1 supporting the soprano, horn 2 playing a fifth part.

Although originally scored for a soprano soloist, a four-part choir (only for the final chorale), two horns, three oboes, bassoon, two violins, viola, and basso continuo, I created this arrangement for Solo Viola & Strings (2 Violins, Viola & Cello).