♪ J. S. Bach - "Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig" ("Ah, how fleeting, ah how insignificant") BWV 26

(1/6) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfpKvbMT1Bg
(2/6) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy24cNNknU0
(3/6) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qsro88oafY
(4/6) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdhA8sL2nBA
(5/6) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA4XJlegQtk
(6/6) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soBVNqRthUE

To those who love their J. S. Bach rough (having @tinydoctor in mind), this rendition of the chorale cantata is the best. Performed by the Gächinger Kantorei (choir) and the Stuttgart Bach Collegium (orchestra) under their conductor Helmuth Rilling, the performance is not sweet nor solemn but straight to the point. The vocalists are amazing – just listen to Adalbert Kraus (tenor) in the second movement. The most "smashing" movement to me is the fourth with the Aria sung by Philippe Huttenlocher (bass). He throws it into your face, take it or leave it! Pure smug Protestantism. :-)

Every movement has the German text and the English translation in the video description (whose imagery you politely pass over). The recording is from the early 1980s.

!listening