Epiphany II

Epiphany II

15 January 2023 – Today is Epiphany II, the second Sunday after Epiphany. Bach has three cantatas for you, an early one from Weimar and two from Leipzig.

Mein Gott, wie lang, ach lange?, BWV 155, was one of the monthly cantatas Bach was required to create while in Weimar, and which he performed again in Leipzig in 1724. The text is based on one of the prescribed readings for this day, the wedding feast at Cana. The libretto is from his favourite Weimar poet, Salomon Franck.

Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid, BWV 3, is from Bach's second Leipzig cycle and thus a chorale cantata, based on a hymn by Martin Moller (1587).

Meine Seufzer, meine Tränen, BWV 13, is from the third Leipzig cantata cycle, and also has the Cana wedding as inspiration.

Cantatas

• Mein Gott, wie lang, ach lange?, BWV 155
  (first performance 19 January 1716, Weimar period)
• Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid, BWV 3
  (first performance 14 January 1725, Leipzig period)
• Meine Seufzer, meine Tränen, BWV 13
  (first performance 20 January 1726, Leipzig period)