Although this two-part cantata, has good reason, to be termed ‘great’, that honour, is owed, not so much to the forces employed, -a standard ‘oboe-orchestra’ and continuo, albeit, with the interesting addition of two recorders, but to the way these forced, are...
Bach: The Cantatas
2022 Cantatas
– Trinity Sunday – 12th June 2022 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 165 – ,O heilges Geist-und Wasserbad’ –
Small forces, -strings, 4 soloists/chorus with heavy bass, continuo, supplemented with bassoon and ‘cello. 1/(aria) ‘Holy rinsing of water and spirit, which admits us, into God’s kingdom and writes our names, into the book of life. The stream that drowns all evil...
– Whit Tuesday – 7th June 2022 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 184 – ,Erwünschtes Freudenlicht‘ –
This spiritual cantata, has its beginnings, in one, of a secular nature. Strings, continuo and 4-part choir/soloists, are joined by 2 flutes. 1/Recitativo: ‘Longed-for light of joy, dawning, with the new covenant, through Jesus, our shepherd. We, who wandered in...
– Whit Monday – 6th June 2022 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 173 ,Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt’ –
Strings and continuo, with 2 flutes and solos, for tenor and alto, an aria for soprano and bass duet and a closing chorus, for 4 part choir. 1/Recitativo: Exalted flesh and blood, -that God takes upon Himself and, to which, He has, on earth, already assigned, -via a...
– Visitation of The Blessed Virgin Mary – Tuesday 31st May 2022 – J.S.Bach, cantata BWV 147 – ,Hertz und Mund und Tat und Leben’-
This substantial, 2-part cantata, is scored for strings and continuo + bassoon and 4-part chorus, with 4 soloists. It requires additionally,1 tromba or trumpet and there are parts, for all three oboe types: oboe itself, oboe da caccia and oboe d’amore, which can all...
– Whitsunday – 5th June 2022 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 59 – ,Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten’ –
Despite the orchestration, -strings, continuo and 2 soloists + 4 part chorus, with only 2 trumpets and drums, with no woodwind required at all, and the reasonably weighty, textual subject matter, this cantata remains light fingered, perhaps, in part, due to the lack...
– Sunday after ascension – 29th May 2022 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 183 – , Sie werden euch in den Bann tun’ –
In scoring this short cantata, Bach reinstates the Violincello-piccolo, along with 2 x oboes, and a da caccio option, although 4 players are needed, 4 solo singers, with strings and continuo. All come together, except perhaps the VC-p, (who knows?) for the final...
– Ascension day – Thursday 26th May 2022 – J.S.Bach – Himmelfahrts Oratorium ,Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen’, BWV 11 –
The ascension oratorio, is scored for strings, continuo and chorus, with two each, of oboes and flutes, three trumpets and drums. Not all the music is original, some being drawn, by Bach, from earlier woks. 1/chorus: ‘Praise God, in His kingdom, praise Him, in His...
– Fifth Sunday after Easter 22nd May 2022 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 87 – ,Bisher habt ihr nichts gebeten in meinem Namen’ –
Orchestral strings and continuo, are joined by a pair of oboes, -with an oboe da caccia option, and the 4 solo singers, join with all, tutti, for the final choral. 1/(introduction) ‘Up-till-now, you have asked me to do absolutely-nothing at all, in my name.’ For Bach,...
– Fourth Sunday after Easter- 15th May 2022 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 166 – ,Wo gehest du hin’-
This ‘questioning’ cantata, is modest in length and forces, -strings and continuo, with oboe and one aria for each voice, with one bass recit, the whole, with chorus, joining, tutti, for the final choral, but overwhelming, in the passion, of its sentiment. 1/(aria)...