Dem Gerechten muß das Licht, BWV 195

Bach composed this cantata in Leipzig around 1727 for a wedding. The earliest version of the work is lost; an incomplete second version from 1742 and a complete revision from the late 1740s survive. These dates correspond with repeat performances of the work. The closing chorale is the first stanza of Paul Gerhardt's hymn "Nun danket all und bringet Ehr", with the melody of "Lobt Gott, ihr Christen alle gleich". The opening movement is based on ; the rest of the text is anonymous. Alfred Dürr derives from allusions in the text that the work was intended for the wedding of a lawyer. == Scoring and structure ==

The cantata is scored for soprano and bass vocal soloists, a four-part choir, three trumpets, timpani, two horns, two flutes, two oboes, two oboes d'amore, two violins, viola, violone, basso continuo. The work is divided into two parts, to be performed before and after the sermon. The original version had three movements in the second part, out of eight total. In the surviving version, the second part includes only the final of six movements. • Chorus: Dem Gerechten muss das Licht immer wieder aufgehen • Recitative (bass): Dem Freudenlicht gerechter Frommen • Aria (bass): Rühmet Gottes Güt und Treu • Recitative (soprano): Wohlan, so knüpfet denn ein Band • Chorus: Wir kommen, deine Heiligkeit • Chorale: Nun danket all und bringet Ehr == Music ==

The cantata opens with a choral movement which combines two fugues, each on a psalm verse, with concertante parts. The bass recitative is secco and "severe". == Recordings ==

• Gächinger Kantorei, Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn, Helmuth Rilling. Die Bach Kantate Vol. 8. Hänssler, 1984. • Holland Boys Choir, Netherlands Bach Collegium, Pieter Jan Leusink. Bach Edition Vol. 18. Brilliant Classics, 2000. • Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir, Ton Koopman. J. S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 21. Antoine Marchand, 2002. • Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki. J. S. Bach: Cantatas Vol. 51. BIS, 2011. == Notes ==