An early, 7 movement cantata, from 1708 and one of two, second now lost, written by Bach. The occasion, the installation of a civic-council. A large orchestra is required, the normal combination of oboes, strings, continuo and chorus, being joined by, 2 x recorders, 3...
Bach: The Cantatas
2022 Cantatas
– Sunday 13th March 2022 – J.S.Bach ‘Reformation’ cantata – BWV 80 – ,Ein feste Burg ist user Gott’ –
This long, 8 section cantata, is scored for standard orchestra, -oboes, strings, continuo and 4-chorus, with solo parts. The three oboe players, are, throughout, required to take up, as requested, by Bach, their variants, oboe, oboe d’amore, oboe da caccia and Taille....
-Sunday March 6th 2022-Bach cantata BWV 79-,Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild’-
As there are no cantatas during Lent, I have chosen this one, a Reformation Day, (31/10) example. This Protestant-Christian-religious-holiday, is a celebration of the onset, of The Reformation, itself. This is a fine example indeed, a 6 movement work, with large...
-Quinquagesima-Sunday 27th February 2022-J.S.Bach cantata BWV 23 (Fassung in h-Moll)-,Du wahrer Gott und Davids Sohn’-
This cantata, -apparently, first conceived, by Bach, in Cöthen, as a test piece, was extended and transposed downwards, -from c minor, to b minor, with oboes transformed into d’amore and trombones and cornett added, as reinforcement, in Leipzig. A 4-movement setting,...
-Sexagesima Sunday 20th February 2023-J.S.Bach-cantata BWV 126-,Erhalt uns, Herr bei deinem Wort.’-
A six movement cantata: Opening chorus with chorale melody, Tenor Aria with 2 Oboes, Recitative with choral insertions, the Tenor voice joined by the Alto, Bass Aria with continuo accompaniment only, secco recit for Tenor and a closing tutti chorale. The standard...
-Septuagesima Sunday 13th February 2022-J.S.Bach cantata BWV 92-,Ich hab in Gottes Herz und Sinn’-
A substantial and varied cantata. Nine movements, beginning with a large-scale, opening chorus with choral melody, followed by the second movement, a recitativo, again with choral tune, then a Tenor aria, with strings, a choral sung by Alto with oboes, a Bass aria,...
-Sunday 6th February 2022-J.S.Bach cantata for no particular occasion -BWV 196-,Der Herr denker an uns’
An ‘early’ cantata, with ‘early’ characteristics and a strings alone event, with, of course continuo support and on this occasion, a chorus. And the occasion, this time, is most probably, a wedding. A short introductory Sinfonia, being followed, firstly, by a choral...
-Feast of the purification of the blessed virgin Mary-Wednesday 2nd February 2022-J.S.Bach cantata BWV 83 ,Erfreute Zeit im neuen Bunde’-
A 5 movement cantata, where the chorus participates, only in the final closing choral. A standard orchestra, -strings, continuo and a pair of Oboes, is supplemented, with two horns, and unusually, a solo violin, described in the score, as concertanto. An opening Alto...
-Fourth Sunday after Epiphany-Sunday 30th January 2022-J.S.Bach-cantata BWV 81-,Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen-‚
A seven movement cantata. An opening Alto aria is followed, by a Tenor recit and aria. The mid-point is reached, with a Bass arioso and aria, for the same, with a very short recit and choral, to close. The opening is scored for strings and continuo, with the addition...
-Third Sunday after Epiphany-Sunday 23rd January 2022-J.S.Bach-cantata-BWV 73 ,Herr, wie du wilt, so schick’s mit mir’.
A 5 movement cantata, with a striking and individual opening, chorus-recit. A Tenor aria is then followed, by a Bass recit, which is continuous with its aria. A chorale, as usual, closes the whole. Strings and chorus, are supported, by a pair of Oboes and the choral...