"Christ Jesus lay in death's strong bands". Written when Bach was only 22, this is one of his finest cantatas. It sets the words of Luther's great Easter hymn, celebrating Jesus' victory over death.

BWV 42 Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats

Series combining profound Lutheran spirituality with exquisite music. Pastor Tapani Simojoki introduces a cantata written by Bach for each Sunday of the church year. The cantatas of J.S. Bach form one of the most impressive musical achievements in the history of Western music. Over a period of several years, Bach wrote a new cantata every week to adorn the worship of St. Thomas church in Leipzig - a breath-taking task, producing some of the world's greatest church music.