Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee vom Himmel fällt
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Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee vom Himmel fällt (German: "Just like the rain and snow falling from the sky" (heaven could also be used to replace sky), BWV 18) is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. It was composed for Sexagesima Sunday, based on text by Erdmann Neumeister written in 1711 for the Eisenach court, which cites Isaiah and Psalm 118.
The work falls relatively early in Bach's chronology of cantata compositions — it was possibly composed for 24 February 1715, but more probably a year or two earlier. The work is scored for a SATB choir, two recorders, a bassoon, violas I-IV, violoncello and continuo.
It is divided into 5 parts (see Wikisource for text):
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
- 1. Sinfonia,
- Composed in 6/4 time in G-minor. Like several of Bach's cantatas — especially the earlier ones — this work begins with an instrumental sinfonia. The form is that of a flexible chaconne, broken into episodes, in a da capo form.
- 2. Recitativo
- 3. Recitativo
- 4. Aria
- 5. Choral
