Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685~1750) wrote "Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit" (God's Time is the very best Time), BWV 106, also known as Actus Tragicus, as a sacred cantata in Mühlhausen for a funeral. The work is one of the earliest Bach cantatas. It was probably composed in 1708 in Mühlhausen, possibly as a cantata for the funeral of Mayor Strecker.

Bach was probably only 22 years old when he composed (this) the opening sonatina, in which two obbligato alto recorders mournfully echo each other over a sonorous background of viola da gambas and continuo. The cantata ranks among his most important works. Inspired directly by its biblical text, it exhibits a great depth and intensity.

Although originally written for period instruments and chorus, I created this arrangement for Wind Ensemble.