It's almost unfair to other composers that Bach was not only the greatest fugue writer to ever live, but he also was... maybe one of the very best melodic writers to ever live?  And he wrote... (checks notes)... HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of absolutely perfect melodies, like it was no big deal? Come on, Bach.  Leave some for the rest of us.

Today Alex brings us three of the most beautiful instrumental intro melodies from arias.  These are all in 12/8 time, a meter that lends itself to peaceful, lilting beauty.   And, Alex connects Bach and "Texas hold 'em" poker, somehow.

Opening aria from BWV 170 Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust (alto solo cantata), Netherlands Bach Society, Jos Van Veldhoven, dir.

"Et misericordia" alto/tenor aria from BWV 243 Magnificat, Netherlands Bach Society, Jos Van Veldhoven, dir.

Soprano/oboe aria from BWV 21 Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis, Netherlands Bach Society, Shunske Sato, dir.

An interesting dissertation by Kayoung Lee, about Bach's use of 12/8 meter: The Role of the 12/8 Time Signature in J. S. Bach's Sacred Vocal Music