Es erhub sich ein Streit (There arose a war), BWV 19, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach.

As well as being a Christian festival, St. Michael's Day was important in the commercial life of Leipzig as it marked the start of one of the city's annual trade fairs.

The opening and closing section of this da capo movement focuses on a single line of text describing the battle against the forces of evil.

[3] The bass recitative in E minor describes the importance of the victory over Satan, but exudes a sombre mood, suggesting the continued difficulties of mankind.

However, elements of the music disturb the peace conveyed by the text: the extended ritornello begins with an "odd three-bar phrasing", leading into a passage of constant momentum between the two oboes.

[4] The trumpet plays the full chorale melody of "Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, o Herr", probably with the third stanza mentioning angels in mind,[3] over a Siciliano rhythm in the strings and continuo.