FLAC tracks | Classical | 68:42 | 338 MbJohann Sebastian Bach composed a dozen church cantatas for a single solo voice, including four for alto: BWV 54, 170, 35 and 169.

Cantatas 54 and 170 are both settings of texts by the Darmstadt court poet, Georg Christian Lehms, from his 1711 cycle of cantata texts, Gottgefälliges Kirchen-Opffer.

Cantata 54 is a setting of the text “Widerstehe doch der Sünde,” (Resist to sin) reminding the listener of the dangers of sin.

It is one of Bach’s early cantatas, composed in Weimar, where Bach was employed as court organist and chamber musician.

It is scored for an ensemble of two violins, two violas and continuo, used by Bach to create a wonderfully rich sound in the opening aria, featuring an astonishingly sinful opening chord.

The final aria is a fugue with a chromatic subject, rigorously exhorting the listener to remain steadfast.

Tracklist:01. Cantata “Vergnugte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust” BWV 170: I. Aria: Vergnugte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust (6:46)02. Cantata “Vergnugte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust” BWV 170: II. Recitative: Die Welt, das Sündenhaus (1:19)03. Cantata “Vergnugte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust” BWV 170: III. Aria: Wie jammern mich doch die verkehrten Herzen (7:33)04. Cantata “Vergnugte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust” BWV 170: IV. Recitative: Wer sollte sich demnach (1:18)05. Cantata “Vergnugte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust” BWV 170: V. Aria: Mir ekelt mehr zu leben (5:52)06. Orchestral Suite No. 2 (Overture) in A Minor, After BWV 1067 in B Minor : I. Ouverture (6:36)07. Orchestral Suite No. 2 (Overture) in A Minor, After BWV 1067 in B Minor: II. Rondeau (1:52)08. Orchestral Suite No. 2 (Overture) in A Minor, After BWV 1067 in B Minor: III. Sarabande (3:18)09. Orchestral Suite No. 2 (Overture) in A Minor, After BWV 1067 in B Minor: IV. Bourrée I & II (1:48)10. Orchestral Suite No. 2 (Overture) in A Minor, After BWV 1067 in B Minor: V. Polonaise (3:07)11. Orchestral Suite No. 2 (Overture) in A Minor, After BWV 1067 in B Minor: VI. Menuet (1:11)12. Orchestral Suite No. 2 (Overture) in A Minor, After BWV 1067 in B Minor: VII. Badinerie (1:32)13. Cantata “Widerstehe doch der Sünde”, BWV 54: I. Aria: Widerstehe doch der Sunde (8:50)14. Cantata “Widerstehe doch der Sünde”, BWV 54: II. Recitative: Die Art verruchter Sünden (1:14)15. Cantata “Widerstehe doch der Sünde”, BWV 54: III. Aria: Wer Sünde tut, der ist vom Teufel (3:07)16. Concerto in C Minor for Violin and Oboe After BWV 1060: I. Allegro (5:08)17. Concerto in C Minor for Violin and Oboe After BWV 1060: II. Adagio (4:44)18. Concerto in C Minor for Violin and Oboe After BWV 1060: III. Allegro (3:32)