On Jesus Christ’s ascent on high BWV 128

Scoring: Soli ATB, Coro SATB, 2 Ob (Ob, Obda), Obca, Tr, 2 Cor, 2 Vl, Va, Bc

After breaking off the annual cantata cycle at the end of March 1725 Bach set a series of cantata texts by the Leipzig poet Christiana Mariana von Ziegler, who maintained one of the first literary-musical salons. The large scale chorale chorus ties this work to the chorale cantatas. The central bass aria "Auf,auf, mit hellem Schall" with solo trumpet is note-worthy since in place of a middle section in the aria, here Bach employs an accompagnato recitative.