Musical Contribution - October 2025

Sonatina “Gottes Zeit ist die Allerbeste Zeit” - J.S.Bach (1685-1750)

The Sonatina forms the opening of Cantata 106, which Bach composed for a funeral service. With All Souls’ Day and Eternity Sunday (both in November) in mind, we are pleased to share this work with you this month.

It is a peaceful and contemplative instrumental introduction to the cantata. The lower strings provide the accompaniment, while two flutes (in this arrangement reduced to one voice) sing the somewhat plaintive melody.

It is difficult to prescribe an exact registration, but here are a few suggestions:

Accompaniment: gamba Melody: flute
Accompaniment: flute Melody: principal
Accompaniment: principal Melody: reed

The most important thing is that the atmosphere of stillness remains.

Kind regards,
André