Because this new year, 2023, began on a Sunday and this date is taken by BWV 143, -New Year's day, the circumcision-, I have decided to allot BWV 152, which is the subject of this posting, to today, 8th January, the second Sunday after Christmas, as there is, in this...
Bach: The Cantatas
Bach Cantatas
– The Circumcision of Christ – New Year’s Day 1st January 2023 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 143 ,Lobe den Herrn. meine Seele’ –
This cantata leaves a trail of doubts in its wake, the combination, of a certain simplicity and lack of sparkle, -missed opportunities, perhaps?, the unique and rather unusual instrumental combination, strings + continuo with a large, robust bassoon part and 3 x horns...
– Christmas Tuesday – 27th December 2022 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 151 – ,Susser Trost, mein Jesus kommt’ –
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...
– 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...
Third Sunday after Trinity – 20th June 2021 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 21- ,Ich hatte viel Bekummernis’ –
A large and long, two-part cantata, 11 sections, 6+5, 'Nach der Predigt'. Timps and trumpets, in the final chorus and trombones, as support to the choral parts, movement 9. Slow tempo-ed and mostly keyed in c minor, this setting reflects a text, in the main, obsessed...
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...
-Advent Sunday – 27th November 2022 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 62 -,Num komm, der Heiden Heiland’ –
This 'oboe' orchestra, with chorus and continuo, is not really, out of the ordinary, save for the fact that this continuo, warrant's more extra bassline support, than at first might seem appropriate, at least one violone/bass and possibly a bassoon, or two, as well,...
– 23rd Sunday after Trinity – 20th November 2022 – J.S.Bach cantata BWV 163 – ,Nur jedem das Seine’ –
2 cellos are required for the third movement - aria and 4 soloists are required, for 5 vocal movements, -3 arias and 2 recits. The only choral movement is the final choral and the orchestra, is simply strings and continuo. 1/Aria: To each, his own, is due. If the...