Bach realises, as always, the stresses and strains, that musicians find themselves under, -and particularly at this Christmas time. In view of this, the forces here are small and chamber-like, - oboe d'amore, flute, strings and 4 part solo/chorus, and are evenly...
Bach: The Cantatas
December 2022
– Christmas Monday – 26th December 2022 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 121 – ,Christum wir sollen loben schon’ –
An single oboe d'amore + strings and continuo, form the orchestra, along with 4 soloists and 4-part chorus. A usual cornetto and-three-trombones-choir, reinforce the vocal parts in the opening and closing numbers. 1/(chorus) 'To Christ, we should sing this splendid...
– Christmas Day – Sunday 25th December 2022 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 110 – ,Unser Mund sei voll Lachens’
This 3 x oboe orchestra, with d'amore and da caccia option, is joined by 2 x flutes and 3 x tromba + timps. The 4-part chorus is joined by ripieno soloists and the whole is supported by a bassoon strengthened continuo. 1/(chorus) 'Let our mouths be full of laughter...
3rd Sunday of Advent – December 11th 2022 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 29 – ,Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir’ –
An oboe orchestra, with additional trumpets and drums, is joined, by a substantial organ obbligato part, which appears twice, this opening sinfonia and the arioso, movement 7. 1/Sinfonia; Bach shamelessly cannibalizes form previous works. In this opening sinfonia, he...
– Sunday 3rd December 2022 -J.S.Bach wedding cantata BWV 195 – ,Dem Gerechten muss das Licht’ –
This Sunday 3rd December, is the second Sunday, of Advent. There is no surviving cantata by Bach, for this particular Sunday, so I have chosen this wedding cantata BWV 195, in its place. An oboe orchestra, with supplementary violone and possibly bassoon continuo, is...