Laß, Fürstin, laß noch einen Strahl
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Laß, Fürstin, laß noch einen Strahl (Let, Princess, let still one more glance) is a secular cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. In Wolfgang Schmieder's catalogue of Bach's works it is BWV 198.
It was written at the request of the University of Leipzig as a funeral ode for Christiane Eberhardine, wife of August II the Strong, on 17 October 1727. The libretto was written by Johann Christoph Gottshed, professor of philosophy and poetry. Divided into 11 movements, the first seven preceded the funeral oration. Set in the Italian style with recitatives and arios, for four soloists, four part choir, two flutes, two oboes d'amore, two viola da gamba, lute and basso continuo. Bach himself directed from the harpsichord.
Bach later borrowed from the Cantata for his St Mark Passion and for another funeral ode written in 1729, and for the adagio introduction to the Kyrie of the Mass in B Minor
