Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) br br “Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee vom Himmel fällt” br br (For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven) br br BWV 18 br br br Event: br Cantata for Sexagesima Sunday br br Readings: br Epistle: 2 Corinthians 11: 19 - 12: 9; Gospel: Luke 8: 4-15 br br Composed: br Weimar, 1713-1714 br 1st performance: 1713 or 1714 or at the latest February 24, 1715 - Weimar br 2nd performance: February 13, 1724 – Leipzig br br Text: br Erdmann Neumeister (Mvts. 3, 4); br Isaiah 55: 10-12 (Mvt. 2); br Lazarus Spengler (Mvt. 5) br br Scoring: br Soloists: Soprano, Tenor, Bass; Four-part chorus br Orchestra: 4 violas, 2 recorders, bassoon, organ continuo br br br Mvt. 1: Sinfonia (00:00) br Mvt. 2: Recitative (02:49) br Mvt. 3: Recitative & Chorale – Litany (03:59) br Mvt. 4: Aria (09:38) br Mvt. 5: Chorale (12:54) br br br Soprano: Midori Suzuki br Tenor: Makoto Sakurada br Bass: Peter Kooy br br Bach Collegium Japan br br Masaaki Suzuki br br Feb, Jun, Jul 1997, at the Kobe Shoin Women's University Chapel, Japan.