Cantata BWV 5, entitled Wo soll ich fliehen hin ("Where shall I flee?"), is a choral cantata (Choralkantate) belonging to the cycle of choral cantatas that Bach composed in Leipzig during his second year as Thomaskantor. It was composed in 1724 and premiered on October 15, 1724.It was composed for the 19th Sunday after Trinity (Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity). The readings for the day included the Gospel of Matthew 9:1-8 (the healing of the paralytic), which is thematically related to sin, guilt, and redemption through the blood of Christ.
The work is based on the penitential hymn Wo soll ich fliehen hin by Johann Heermann, published in 1630 (with an associated melody from the period). The hymn consists of several stanzas expressing anguish over sin and seeking refuge in the blood of Christ. Bach used the text of the hymn literally in the outer movements (stanza 1 in the opening chorus and the last stanza in the final chorale). An unknown librettist paraphrased the middle stanzas for the recitatives and arias, adapting them to the context of the liturgical day and the style of the choral cycle.
The cantata consists of seven movements:
- Chorus – Wo soll ich fliehen hin (stanza 1 of the hymn, in the form of a choral fantasia with cantus firmus in the soprano).
- Recitative (bass).
- Aria (tenor).
- Recitative (alto).
- Aria (bass).
- Recitative and chorus (soprano) – Combination of recitative with insertions from verse 3 of the hymn.
- Choral – Final stanza of the hymn, harmonized for four voices.
The opening chorus is characteristic of the choral cycle, with elaborate contrapuntal treatment.
Instrumentation
- Tromba da tirarsi (slide trumpet).
- 2 oboes.
- 2 violins.
- Viola.
- Basso continuo.
- Four-part choir (SATB).
- Soloists: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass.
The tromba da tirarsi is particularly prominent in movement 5 (bass aria), where it has a virtuoso obbligato part, bringing a brilliant and symbolic color of redemption.