| ID | Title | Content | Template Variables |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1178 | Advent I | Advent I, the fourth sunday before Christmas, is the start of the new liturgical year. Bach left us 3 magnificent cantatas for this day. They all deal with the excitement of the upcoming birth of the Saviour. Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, was a hymn written by Martin Luther himself, based on the oldest known Christmas hymn, Veni Redemptor Gentium, written by Pope Ambrosius (339-397). Bach used a libretto based on this hymn for two different cantatas, one from the Weimar period and one written in Leipzig. Bach often reused themes or partial or even complete cantatas to create new work. This style is called musical parody. And the following cantata is a prime example of this practice by Bach. Schwingt freudig euch empor, BWV 36, is part of a parodial collection of five cantatas, BWV numbers 36 through 36d. The original one is 36c, a Leipzig University celebratory cantata from 1725 with the same title. Steigt freudig in die Luft, BWV 36a, a lost (but reconstructed) cantata was based on 36c and created one year later for the birthday of Princess Charlotte Friederike Wilhelmine (1702-1785), second wife of Bachs former patron, Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Köthen. BWV 36d, a lost cantata from 1730 was Bach's first attempt to create a church cantata from the previous two cantatas. BWV 36, this cantata, was written for Advent I 1731, by changing the recitatives to choral passages. Die Freude reget sich, BWV 36b, is the last variation, written again for a Leipzig University celebration 10 years later (c. 1737-1738). | calendar-code: WBC01 liturgical-day: Advent I dayname-en: Advent I or Levavi playlist-name: WBC01-Advent I or Levavi list-all-cantatas: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 61 (first performance 2 December 1714, Weimar period) Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 62 (first performance 3 December 1724, Leipzig period) Schwingt freudig euch empor, BWV 36 (first performance 2 December 1731, final version, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/336cd2cbd15397d58a783a0c617fc37f256d146a playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/7oEOHfdEanELm1Gm62QaTF playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc01-advent-i-or-levavi/pl.7ce064056b344831bb9e9b8390c33602 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/3850300922 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and performances for all three cantatas: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-61/ https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-62/ https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-36/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: mendelssohn-thomaskantorei-leipzig-watercolour.jpg image-caption: Watercolour painting by Felix Mendelssohn of the Thomaskantorei in Leipzig, 1838. I was thrilled to find this painting, because of course it is thanks to Mendelssohn among others that Bach was rediscovered in the 19th century, beginning with Mendelssohn conducting the Mattheaus Passion in 1829. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/38972806-7495-4f1f-8f65-4f2ea1bd6866 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/17868774 cantata-day-occurrences: December 3 2023, December 1 2024, November 30 2025, November 29 2026, November 28 2027, December 3 2028, December 2 2029, December 1 2030, November 30 2031, November 28 2032, November 27 2033, December 3 2034, December 2 2035, November 30 2036. cantata-day-calculation: The 4th Sunday before Christmas. Liturgical period : Advent. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Advent |
| 1179 | Advent II | There is no original Bach cantata for Advent II (also called Populus Sion), the 3rd Sunday before Christmas. Unfortunately, the musical score of the original Wachet! Betet! Betet! Wachet!, BWV 70a, created in Weimar on December 6th 1716, is lost. Bach expanded on this original cantata, and created BWV 70 on November 21st 1723 in Leipzig for Trinitatis XXVI (the 26th Sunday after Trinitas, the Sunday after Pentecost). In Leipzig the Advent was a quiet period (Tempus Clausum - without music in mass), so he had to re-use the music for another occasion. Since Trinitatis XXVI does not occur very often (you need to have a year with a very early Easter and even then the start of Advent needs to fall just right, next time is in 2024) I'm glad that I can propose this beautiful cantata as a substitute for the original BWV 70a from Weimar. I've also added another cantata that can be heard even less if you would strictly observe the liturgical calendar: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140, written for Trinitatis XXVII. Trinitatis XXVII only occurs if Easter falls between March 22nd and 26th, and Advent doesn't start too early (this depends on the weekday of Christmas). Bach wrote the cantata in 1731, which is rather late for his liturgical cantatas. The reason is simple: it was the first year in his tenure as Thomaskantor that Trinitatis XXVII occured. He performed this cantata again in 1742, another year with Trinitatis XXVII in the calendar. The next time there is a Trinitatis XXVII in our future is in... 2035. Well, I don't know about you, but I can't wait that long to hear this magnificent cantata, one of Bach's most popular and most performed. It is a choral cantata, completing his second cantata cycle of 1724-1725. It is based on the hymn "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" written by the preacher Philipp Nicolai in 1599 as a way to keep good morale in his community during a heavy pestilence epidemic. | calendar-code: WBC02 liturgical-day: Advent II dayname-en: Advent II or Populus Sion playlist-name: WBC02-Advent II or Populus Sion list-all-cantatas: Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!, BWV 70a (first performance 6 December 1716, expanded in 1723 to BWV 170 for Trinity XXVI, Weimar period) Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140 (first performance 25 November 1731, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ff478b3b9216d36c1d1d2b5481fc6e218dfa8cdf playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/62uOcNR8Y2S5TZQd61RiTG playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc02-advent-ii-or-populus-sion/pl.770e67a84de5470794e9b70af365b654 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/3887996042 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: weimar-stadtschloss.jpg image-caption: View of the Weimar Stadtschloss. Several Bach cantatas were premiered in the church of the schloss. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/af61aa56-00ef-4322-b4b8-9a8c922b676a playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/17878150 cantata-day-occurrences: December 10 2023, December 8 2024, December 7 2025, December 6 2026, December 5 2027, December 10 2028, December 9 2029, December 8 2030, December 7 2031, December 5 2032, December 4 2033, December 10 2034, December 9 2035, December 7 2036. cantata-day-calculation: The 3rd Sunday before Christmas. Liturgical period : Advent. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Advent |
| 1180 | Advent III | Advent III or Gaudete, is the second Sunday before Christmas. Again there is officially no cantata for this day because of Tempus Clausum observed in Leipzig (no music in mass), so the only possible cantatas come from Bach's Weimar period, where Tempus Clausum was not observed during Advent. The cantata we know of, BWV 186a - Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht, was first performed in Weimar, December 13th 1716. But just like with the cantata for Advent II, that score did not survive. So we stick to BWV 186, an expansion on the original that Bach created in Leipzig for Trinitatis VII (in the middle of summer!). | calendar-code: WBC03 liturgical-day: Advent III dayname-en: Advent III or Gaudete playlist-name: WBC03-Advent III or Gaudete list-all-cantatas: Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht, BWV 186a (first performance 13 December 1716, expanded in 1723 to BWV 186 for Trinity VII, Weimar period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/a7b057ff3d3293984359b50a649dfd41f9d5a6bd playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/7qj9ubKbX2TjdEczhoCM5W playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc03-advent-iii-or-gaudete/pl.u-e9JZKHAjv2M playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/3888054022 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: weimar-bach-house-east.jpg image-caption: A reconstruction of the Bach familiy house in Weimar as it may have looked in his lifetime (view from the east). Don't try to look for the house on a visit to the city, because it is now... a parking lot. Visualisation done by the Hummel architecture office in 2011. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/60734fde-e89f-494c-9799-403beef80359 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/17878218 cantata-day-occurrences: December 17 2023, December 15 2024, December 14 2025, December 13 2026, December 12 2027, December 17 2028, December 16 2029, December 15 2030, December 14 2031, December 12 2032, December 11 2033, December 17 2034, December 16 2035, December 14 2036. cantata-day-calculation: The 2nd Sunday before Christmas. Liturgical period : Advent. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Advent |
| 1181 | Advent IV | Advent IV, also known as Rorate, is the last Sunday before Christmas. Two Weimar cantatas for this day. Contrary to Leipzig, Weimar did allow music in mass during Advent. First up BWV 132: Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn! First performed in Weimar, December 22nd 1715. Libretto by the Weimar court librarian Salomon Franck, Bach's favourite libretto writer in Weimar. It evokes the day's prescribed gospel reading, the testimony of John the Baptist and the prediction of Isaiah, urging listeners to prepare for the birth of the Messiah. Next is BWV 147a: Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben. Also first performed in Weimar the following year (December 20th 1716), but again this music was lost. Bach expanded on the original composition in Leipzig, but not for Advent, as Tempus Clausum was observed there (no music in mass). So he reused it for another occasion, namely Visitation and first performed it on July 2nd, 1723, expanding it with the famous final chorale Jesus bleibet meine Freude. The music for this version, BWV 147a, was partially lost but reconstructed based on BWV 147. The final movement of Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147, called Jesus bleibet meine Freude, has become very well known and popular thanks to the transcription for piano by the late Dame Myra Hess (I actually played this work on the piano when I was young). There's a very nice recent recording of it by Rafał Blechacz on Deutsche Grammophon, which I've added at the end. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. | calendar-code: WBC04 liturgical-day: Advent IV dayname-en: Advent IV or Rorate playlist-name: WBC04-Advent IV or Rorate list-all-cantatas: Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn!, BWV 132 (first performance 22 December 1715, Weimar period) Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147a (first performance 20 December 1716, expanded in 1723 to BWV 147 for Visitation, Weimar period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/679e5aa87c2fec739fc63f9db4dc5cb358abb220 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/0oHv8jJJNRnjv95waArEqj playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/advent-iv/pl.f7be718e1e0c491085373897e000a97f playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/3888064642 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 132 and BWV 147: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-132/ https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-147/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: bwv-132-titelpage.jpg image-caption: The title page of the original manuscript of Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn, BWV 132, from 1715. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/6fa846a2-428c-4a8f-a25e-c954e2a92f21 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/17878245 cantata-day-occurrences: December 24 2023, December 22 2024, December 21 2025, December 20 2026, December 19 2027, December 24 2028, December 23 2029, December 22 2030, December 21 2031, December 19 2032, December 18 2033, December 24 2034, December 23 2035, December 21 2036. cantata-day-calculation: The 1st Sunday before Christmas. Liturgical period : Advent. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Advent |
| 1182 | Christmas Day | Christmas is obviously one of the most important liturgical days and there are no less than eight magnificent pieces, from early works to mature compositions. Among them two of his absolute masterpieces: the first cantata of the Weihnachtsoratorium, and the Christmas version of his Magnificat (BWV 243a). Christmas day 1723 was Bach's first Christmas as Thomaskantor, and he wanted to make an impression. In the morning service (7 AM) in the Nicolaikirche and for the vespers (1:30 PM) in the Thomaskirche he performed Christen, ätzet diesen Tag, BWV 63, a beautiful and very festive early cantata, a work he possibly first performed in Halle in 1713 during his Weimar period. On that same Christmas Day 1723 for the vespers in the Nicolaikirche the Christmas version of the Magnificat, BWV 243a, was performed (and repeated the day after in the Thomaskirche), a work originally written for Visitation (July 2nd), but with the addition of 4 parts relating to Christmas. Martin Luther was opposed to Latin in mass, but not for the structural parts of a mass that parishioners typically know by hart and which feel familiar. For these parts even music by Catholic composers was tolerated. Bach did one better that Christmas 1723, by not only composing the Magnificat mentioned above, but also an outstanding Sanctus, BV 238. Christmas 1724 saw the creation of Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, BWV 91, the first of no less than 7 cantatas he would write for that Christmastide. He really worked hard during Advent of that year; because of Tempus Clausum he did not have to perform music in mass, so he had time to work on those 7 new cantatas. Like all cantatas of his second Leipzig cantata cycle, it is based on a protestant hymn, this one written by Martin Luther himself. For Christmas 1725 he created Unser Mund sei voll Lachens, BWV 110. The opening chorus may sound familiar, as it is based on the Ouverture of Orchestral Suite BWV 1069 which he wrote in Köthen. Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe, BWV 197a, was created for Christmas 1728 or 1729 and is partially lost; only the last four movements remain. A recent Facebook post from the Bach Archiv - Bachfest Leipzig called Jauchzet frohlocket, the Leipziger Urbi et Orbi. Very original, and in my opinion (and probably yours too!) not really exaggerated. Jauchzet, frohlocket, BWV 248 1, is the opening cantata of one of Bach's true monuments, his Weihnachtsoratorium or Christmas Oratorio. This collection of 6 related cantatas was performed between Christmas 1734 and Epiphany 1735. It was never Bach's intention to play the 6 cantatas in one go, so I will also present them over the coming festive days in this Christmastide, on the actual days Bach intended them to be heard. Imagine: the second performance of the Christmas Oratorio was in... 1857, 123 years later. Thanks to Eduard Grell and the Sing-Akademie zu Berlin this wonderful music was not forgotten. It shows that the fame that Bach enjoys in our time is not a given, and we should credit people like Grell or Felix Mendelssohn Bartoldy for rediscovering this then forgotten composer. As closure of this impressive list of works is Gloria in excelsis Deo, BWV 191, created for Christmas day 1745, to celebrate the Peace of Dresden which ended the second Silesian war on that day. It is Bach's only cantata on a Latin text, and you could argue that it is not really a cantata, having only three parts, basically a very extravert piece of music, without the usual introvert passages found in a classical cantata. | calendar-code: WBCF1225 liturgical-day: Christmas Day dayname-en: Christmas Day playlist-name: WBCF1225-Christmas Day list-all-cantatas: Christen, ätzet diesen Tag, BWV 63 (first performance 1713? 1716?, Weimar period) Magnificat, BWV 243a (first performance 25 December 1723, Leipzig period) Sanctus, BWV 238 (first performance 25 December 1723, Leipzig period) Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, BWV 91 (first performance 25 December 1724, Leipzig period) Unser Mund sei voll Lachens, BWV 110 (first performance 25 December 1725, Leipzig period) Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe, BWV 197a (first performance 25 December ?1728, partly lost, Leipzig period) Jauchzet, frohlocket, BWV 248 (first performance 25 December 1734 - Christmas Oratorio Part I, Leipzig period) Gloria in excelsis Deo, BWV 191 (first performance 25 December 1745, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://mosaic.scdn.co/640/349b2f45ad2cc490c016ea2d81a0f81d16b6a2cc54ba7f01cad648ce14e6ee4a9697f50ce1e8d7b3af1081510b0b8e88b48517c53444ea5e9deb537bbc3e58ec51648fcce4385cf837dbe1e4b2b1db4c playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/20ibSyY5SJvvdozNhLoZb6?si=ngU4aOutQCeX_zObh7n13w playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf1225-christmas-day/pl.e7a020a589a643a590354c4d5c3863b9 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/3906729722 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 63, BWV 243, BWV 110 and BWV 191: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-63/ https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-243 https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-110/ https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-191/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: nativity-lorenzo-monaco.jpg image-caption: The nativity, a tempera on wood painting by Lorenzo Monaco (born Piero di Giovanni; c. 1370 – c. 1425), the leading painter in Florence in the early fifteenth century and active as a painter of illuminated manuscripts, frescoes and panel paintings. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/a242a6ea-f6a9-4f6e-ac71-7c58e92a1208 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/17885451 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every December 25th. Liturgical period : Christmastide. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Christmastide |
| 1183 | Second day of Christmas | On this second day of Christmas, Bach presents four Leipzig cantatas. Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, BWV 40, was composed in 1723, Bach's first year in Leipzig, performed in both main churches, the Thomaskirche and Nikolaikirche. Christum wir sollen loben schon, BWV 121, was created one year later in 1724, based on a hymn by Martin Luther. The opening bars sound like a much older motet, which is Bach's homage to the time and sound of the original hymn. Selig ist der Mann, BWV 57, is from the year after that, 1725, but does not have the readings for second day of Christmas as its theme - it honours Saint Stephen, the first martyr in Christendom, whose nameday falls on December 26th. Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend, BWV 248, is the second cantata from the Christmas Oratorio (1734). The first cantata (for Christmas Day) described the birth of Jesus, the libretto of this second cantata covers the annunciation to the shepherds. | calendar-code: WBCF1226 liturgical-day: Second day of Christmas dayname-en: Second day of Christmas playlist-name: WBCF1226-Second day of Christmas list-all-cantatas: Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, BWV 40 (first performance 26 December 1723, Leipzig period) Christum wir sollen loben schon, BWV 121 (first performance 26 December 1724, Leipzig period) Selig ist der Mann, BWV 57 (first performance 26 December 1725, Leipzig period) Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend, BWV 248 (first performance 26 December 1734 - Christmas Oratorio Part II, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://mosaic.scdn.co/640/24ff1db67b41bfee0db276c33582618efc8a90e52d345feae7475bf16727809fe89ee6be61480376c59d877966cfc345a593934cd293c096cd975066f1aa21b7b53568d471ae4ac778ccf224541eb4de playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/1KsWc96T3QK8GocdSmQLJL playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/c06-second-day-of-christmas/pl.44fc6062eecf42bbbe230b69c9cbdf27 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/3925501982 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 40 and 57: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-40/ https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-57/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: annunciation-shepherds-saftleven.jpg image-caption: The annunciation to the shepherds by Cornelis Saftleven (1607-1681), from around 1630 - 1650. The annunciation is the subject of the second Weihnachtsoratorium cantata, Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend, BWV 248-2. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/562d3e51-4fb0-43e5-9760-c4a9e7cbb624 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/17893431 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every December 26th. Liturgical period : Christmastide. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Christmastide |
| 1184 | Third day of Christmas | The third day of Christmas was also a holy day in Leipzig, so Bach wrote no less than four cantatas for this day. Sehet, welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater erzeiget, BWV 64, was created in 1723 in Leipzig for this day, which is also the feast of John the Evangelist. Ich freue mich in dir, BWV 133, is from the following year, 1724, again in Leipzig, and is part of the choral cantata cycle. Süßer Trost, mein Jesus kömmt, BWV 151, is from 1725. A cantata where the first four parts are for the soloists, and the choir only has to sing the last part. Bach did this often in cantatas for a third consecutive feast day, to spare the poor choir boys of the Thomanerchor. Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen, BWV 248, is the third cantata of the Christmas Oratorio, describing the adoration of the Shepherds. For the fourth cantata of this magnificent Oratorio, you'll have to be patient... That's for New Year's day. | calendar-code: WBCF1227 liturgical-day: Third day of Christmas dayname-en: Third day of Christmas playlist-name: WBCF1227-Third day of Christmas list-all-cantatas: Sehet, welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater erzeiget, BWV 64 (first performance 27 December 1723, Leipzig period) Ich freue mich in dir, BWV 133 (first performance 27 December 1724, Leipzig period) Süßer Trost, mein Jesus kömmt, BWV 151 (first performance 27 December 1725, Leipzig period) Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen, BWV 248 (first performance 27 December 1734 - Christmas Oratorio Part III, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://mosaic.scdn.co/640/24ff1db67b41bfee0db276c33582618efc8a90e52d345feae7475bf16727809fe89ee6be61480376e6883ff971c423539493ee5f6ba8b6106e6abb72f1aa21b7b53568d471ae4ac778ccf224541eb4de playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/1Ip5v5caxhqyvTWsoLfS4C playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/c07-third-day-of-christmas/pl.24a40621f41d4a2ebd15ffb0b4c2ab24 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/3929182782 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 151: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-151/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: adoration-shepherds-jordaens.jpg image-caption: The adoration of the shepherds is the scene depicted in the thirth cantata of the Weihnachtsoratorium, so I am honoured to present to you the adoration by Jacob Jordaens (1593-1678), a painter of my hometown of Antwerp, a contemporary of Rubens and Van Dyck. This painting hangs in a museum in Grenoble since it was robbed in 1794 by the French who occupied my country at the time. It is one of at least 173 outstanding works of art they took. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/f25fc7ca-6d7a-4209-88a0-c54e01fd337d playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/17954054 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every December 27th. Liturgical period : Christmastide. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Christmastide |
| 1185 | Christmas I | For the Sunday after Christmas Bach wrote 3 cantatas, one in Weimar and two early Leipzig works. Tritt auf die Glaubensbahn, BWV 152, is an early Weimar cantata from 1714, when Bach was just appointed as Konzertmeister, which brought the obligation to write a monthly cantata. This cantata, like several other Weimar cantatas, is scored for the more minimal, chamber music-like setting of the Weimar court. Das neugeborne Kindelein, BWV 122, is a choralcantata from his 1724 cantata cycle. Gottlob! nun geht das Jahr zu Ende, BWV 28, gives thanks for the past (prosperous) year and hopes for equal fortune in the new year. You may wonder why there is no part of the Weihnachtsoratorium for this day, effectively creating a break in the sequence? The reason seems simple to me: the Weihnachtsoratorium was written and performed for the Christmas season of 1734-1735. As Christmas fell on a Saturday in 1734 (thank you, internet), the Sunday after Christmas is as well the second day of Christmas (December 26), and on that day he performed the second part of BWV 248, the Weihnachtsoratorium. So in 1734 there was no separate Sunday after Christmas to celebrate. | calendar-code: WBC08 liturgical-day: Christmas I dayname-en: Sunday after Christmas playlist-name: WBC08-Sunday after Christmas list-all-cantatas: Tritt auf die Glaubensbahn, BWV 152 (first performance 30 December 1714, Weimar period) Das neugeborne Kindelein, BWV 122 (first performance 31 December 1724, Leipzig period) Gottlob! nun geht das Jahr zu Ende, BWV 28 (first performance 30 December 1725, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/dbdf584be233477a55b8f655d4a919526402e70c playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/0ZReZ9rIB1orDX6MxJWtbA playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/c08-sunday-after-christmas/pl.098f3f6384f647f387da72ea9a42b01b playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/3958298022 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: heilige-familie-schongauer.jpg image-caption: The Holy Family, a painting from around 1480/1490 by Martin Schongauer (around 1440/45 Colmar - 1491 Breisach), Kunsthistorischen Museum Wien (Vienna). Painting suggested to me by website subscriber Jennifer. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/96c47605-2e34-4498-93ae-c545a484b2f1 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/17993244 cantata-day-occurrences: December 31 2023, December 29 2024, December 28 2025, December 27 2026, December 26 2027, December 31 2028, December 30 2029, December 29 2030, December 28 2031, December 26 2032, December 31 2034, December 30 2035, December 28 2036. cantata-day-calculation: The 1st Sunday after Christmas, but only if New Year does not fall on that same Sunday. Liturgical period : Christmastide. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Christmastide |
| 1186 | New Year's Day | For New Year Bach created 7 cantatas. First up is Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele, BWV 143, an early cantata from his Mühlhausen period. There is doubt that this cantata is actually from Bach, as there are no manuscripts in his handwriting. The oldest manuscript dates from 1762, so doubt remains. Die Zeit, die Tag und Jahre macht, BWV 134a, a rare cantata from the Köthen period, served as a model for his 1724 Easter Tuesday cantata, Ein Herz, das seinen Jesum lebend weiß, BWV 134. Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 190, was written for Bach's first New Year in Leipzig, 1724, so he made an extra effort to create a very festive cantata. This cantata served as a source for BWV 170 (with the same title), written for the second day of the 200rd anniversary of the Augsburg Confession (June 26 1730). Technically, New Year is not a liturgical day; the liturgical new year starts with the first Sunday of Advent. But on that day the Circumcision and naming of Jesus (Luke 2:21) is celebrated, so the cantata Jesu, nun sei gepreiset, BWV 41, uses that as inspiration through a hymn by in three stanzas by Johannes Hermann (1591). Herr Gott, dich loben wir, BWV 16, from his third complete cantata cycle (1726) relates again to a celebration for the New Year. Gott, wie dein Name, so ist auch dein Ruhm, BWV 171 (1729), covers the naming of Jesus again, as does the fourth cantata of the Christmas Oratorio, Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben, BWV 248. | calendar-code: WBCF0101 liturgical-day: New Year's Day dayname-en: New Year's Day playlist-name: WBCF0101-New Year's Day list-all-cantatas: Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele, BWV 143 (first performance ? New Year's Day 1709-1711?, Mühlhausen period) Die Zeit, die Tag und Jahre macht, BWV 134a (first performance 1 January 1719, Köthen period) Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 190 (first performance 1 January 1724 - instrumental parts lost, Leipzig period) Jesu, nun sei gepreiset, BWV 41 (first performance 1 January 1725, Leipzig period) Herr Gott, dich loben wir, BWV 16 (first performance 1 January 1726, Leipzig period) Gott, wie dein Name, so ist auch dein Ruhm, BWV 171 (first performance 1 January ?1729, Leipzig period) Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben, BWV 248 (first performance 1 January 1735 - Christmas Oratorio Part IV, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://mosaic.scdn.co/640/1ee1d96a2338741f2a7709bfce00716dd4eb4ba94bbaa272704292787724726f581c176c356ee904dbdf584be233477a55b8f655d4a919526402e70cf4652eb79da0ec79010e647b1b82462fa7628165 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6DeA58NZqf5ci7A8ADlzY4?si=XG8aZp2USS6cbkKZqApGXg playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0101-new-years-day/pl.c2a4a8ae1fca4006b7ed24e5594cc9f9 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/3980502882 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: leipzig-fireworks-new-year.jpg image-caption: An impressive fireworks display over Leipzig welcomes the New Year. You can spot the Thomaskirche left of the skyscraper in the center. Happy New Year! google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/f307f163-25b4-4df5-baa3-ff1faaa651bd playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/18108347 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every January 1st. Liturgical period : Christmastide. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Christmastide |
| 1187 | New Year I | New Year I is the liturgical day which falls on the first Sunday after New Year, if this Sunday occurs before Epiphany (January 6th). This day only occurs in 4 out of 7 years, which is a bit of a pity because also the 5th cantata of the Weihnachtsoratorium is one of the cantatas for this day. The first cantata, Schau, lieber Gott, wie meine Feind, BWV 153, dates from Bach's first Leipzig Christmas period, during which his musicians created new works like the Magnificat, BWV 243 and other cantatas, so after this busy period Bach proposes this cantata with a very modest setting to spare his Thomanerchor and orchestra. The same remark can be made for Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid, BWV 58, created in 1727, and actually a chorale cantata completing the 1724 cantata cycle, because this liturgical day did not occur in January 1725. Finally there's the fifth cantata of the Christmas Oratorio, Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen, BWV 248, which covers the voyage of the Three Magi. | calendar-code: WBC10 liturgical-day: New Year I dayname-en: First Sunday after New Year playlist-name: WBC10-First Sunday after New Year list-all-cantatas: Schau, lieber Gott, wie meine Feind, BWV 153 (first performance 2 January 1724, Leipzig period) Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid, BWV 58 (first performance 5 January 1727, Leipzig period) Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen, BWV 248 (first performance 2 January 1735 - Christmas Oratorio Part V, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/25b3955743884d6c77081703dc01edcd71252f88 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/7u2Tb9HACPrKgaVUyGbyZt playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc10-first-sunday-after-new/pl.1cd6869127a547c3bbd5c1473a0d5221 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/3991857742 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 58: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-58/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: journey-magi-ravenna.jpg image-caption: The journey of the Three Magi, carrying gold, frankincense and myrrh, following the star in the right hand corner. Mosaic in the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy, from the 6th century. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/4badf0f9-2582-4614-9e8f-3b73664dd3f4 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/18263136 cantata-day-occurrences: January 7 2024, January 5 2025, January 4 2026, January 3 2027, January 2 2028, January 7 2029, January 6 2030, January 5 2031, January 4 2032, January 2 2033, January 1 2034, January 7 2035, January 6 2036, January 4 2037. cantata-day-calculation: The 1st Sunday after New Year, but only if it occurs before Epiphany (January 6th) (occurs 4 years out of 7). Liturgical period : Christmastide. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Christmastide |
| 1188 | Epiphany | Epiphany is the day of the visit of the three kings from the Orient to the manger, an important day on the liturgical calender, as it closes Christmastide. Bach created 3 cantatas for this day, including the final cantata for the Christmas Oratorio. All cantatas date from the Leipzig period. With the cantata Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen, BWV 65, Bach ended his first Christmastide in Leipzig, during which he created five new cantatas, a Sanctus (BWV 238) and the Christmas version of the Magnificat (BWV 243a), next to the performance of a beautiful Weimar cantata (Christen, ätzet diesen Tag, BWV 63), and, lets not forget, many of those performances both in the Thomas and the Nikolai Kirche... An incredible feat which he would repeat in other years. The title of this cantata refers to the scripture by Isaiah which states that the Messiah would gather people from all over the world, even from Saba, modern-day Yemen. Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen, BWV 123, ends the Christmastide the following year, after a schedule just as busy as the year before. It fits the form of the Choral cantata cycle to which it belongs, using a hymn by Ahasverus Fritsch (1629-1701) as its inspiration, with a text that describes the horrors of the Thirty Years War. Finally, the cantata Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben, BWV 248, is the sixth and last cantata of his magnificent Christmas Oratorio, which ended the Christmastide in 1735. | calendar-code: WBCF0106 liturgical-day: Epiphany dayname-en: Epiphany playlist-name: WBCF0106-Epiphany list-all-cantatas: Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen, BWV 65 (first performance 6 January 1724, Leipzig period) Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen, BWV 123 (first performance 6 January 1725, Leipzig period) Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben, BWV 248 (first performance 6 January 1735 - Christmas Oratorio Part VI, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/f6275ff1271a63afec04abdf2d0247cdad02f70b playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/1NKucYErcruqusukUHnAh3 playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/c11-epiphany/pl.6353e0d4a0284c5fbdd26279596796d9 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/3991862102 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 65: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-65/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: adoration-magi-rubens.jpg image-caption: The adoration of the Magi by Peter Paul Rubens, the most famous painter from my hometown Antwerp. Painted in 1609 to decorate the negotiations hall for the Twelve Year's truce. Given to the Spanish ambassador in 1612, it came into possession of the Spanish king Philips IV. Rubens himself reworked it slightly in Spain in 1628-1629. It survived a fire in 1734 by being cut from its frame and thrown out the window, and now resides in the Prado in Madrid. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/518a3f98-1cd1-4009-addd-93af39550c10 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/18148766 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every January 6th. Liturgical period : Christmastide. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Christmastide |
| 1189 | Epiphany I | Epiphany I is the first Sunday after Epiphany, and Bach has three Leipzig cantatas for you, from the first three complete cantata cycles he wrote in that city. Mein liebster Jesus ist verloren, BWV 154, premiered in Leipzig on January 9th, 1724, so immediately after the very busy Christmas weeks. He reused parts he wrote in Weimar, and to spare the choir boys there are only two chorals, which may have been sung 'a prima vista', so on first sight of the musical score. Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht, BWV 124, is a choral cantata from Bach's second Leipzig cycle, based on a hymn by Christian Keymann from 1658. From the third Leipziger cantata cycle there's Liebster Jesu, mein Verlangen, BWV 32, based on a libretto which is part of a bundle of cantata libretto's written by Georg Christian Lehms, a librarian from Darmstadt, for the local court composer Christoph Graupner. Bach already disposed of these texts in Weimar, because Widerstehe doch der Sünde, BWV 54,written for Trinitatis VII in 1714, is also part of the bundle. | calendar-code: WBC12 liturgical-day: Epiphany I dayname-en: Epiphany I playlist-name: WBC12-Epiphany I list-all-cantatas: Mein liebster Jesus ist verloren, BWV 154 (first performance 9 January 1724, Leipzig period) Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht, BWV 124 (first performance 7 January 1725, Leipzig period) Liebster Jesu, mein Verlangen, BWV 32 (first performance 13 January 1726, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b2730e858b2af731b90f85095687 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3qexkFYbtuhhIbqLWQOGkI?si=hMJhzwqnTFGjwDdOfXvEXA playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/c12-first-sunday-after-epiphany/pl.8fec9d4e106842dd9019664b82635b56 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4013509022 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 32: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-32/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: thomanerchor-group-picture.jpg image-caption: A picture of the Thomanerchor in the Thomas Kirche, with the previous Thomaskantor, Gotthold Schwarz, appointed in 2016. On September 11, 2021, the new Thomaskantor, Andreas Reize, was appointed. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/4db45dfc-3ed1-4f46-b539-c4c5a38544d7 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/18265111 cantata-day-occurrences: January 7 2024, January 12 2025, January 11 2026, January 10 2027, January 9 2028, January 7 2029, January 13 2030, January 12 2031, January 11 2032, January 9 2033, January 8 2034, January 7 2035, January 13 2036, January 11 2037. cantata-day-calculation: The 1st Sunday after Epiphany (January 6th). Liturgical period : Ordinary time I. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time I |
| 1190 | Epiphany II | Epiphany II is 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. | calendar-code: WBC13 liturgical-day: Epiphany II dayname-en: Epiphany II playlist-name: WBC13-Epiphany II list-all-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) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/71af6384f502e307781b1eb57f345f2e9d8d1966 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/1rzP54yn5tzjlOXE7nSgsq playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc13-second-sunday-after/pl.24faf89eabfc4fbf9e24ef378a158e0e playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4013983202 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: veronese-wedding-cana.jpg image-caption: The Wedding Feast at Cana (1563) by Paolo Veronese (1528–1588). This magnificent large painting hangs in the Louvre opposite the Mona Lisa, so it's a pity that very many visitors do not pay it the attention it deserves. The wedding at Cana is the inspiration for the libretto for Mein Gott, wie lang, ach lange?, BWV 155, and Meine Seufzer, meine Tränen, BWV 13. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/f61e56e8-7ac8-4082-8193-95e68c915d21 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/18534306 cantata-day-occurrences: January 14 2024, January 19 2025, January 18 2026, January 17 2027, January 16 2028, January 14 2029, January 20 2030, January 19 2031, January 18 2032, January 16 2033, January 15 2034, January 14 2035, January 20 2036, January 18 2037. cantata-day-calculation: The 2nd Sunday after Epiphany (January 6th). Liturgical period : Ordinary time I. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time I |
| 1191 | Epiphany III | Epiphany III is the third Sunday after Epiphany. Bach graced this day with four cantatas. All four cantatas have texts inspired by the reading of the day from the Gospel of Matthew: the healing of a leper. They echo the statement by the leper that he puts his faith in Christ's hands. The first three cantatas are from the three complete Leipzig cantata cycles, the last one, Ich steh mit einem Fuß im Grabe, BWV 156, from a few years later. It is one of the cantatas on a libretto by Picander, the librettist for many later Bach cantatas and of course the Matthaeus Passion. Picander wrote texts for a complete cantata cycle to be composed by the "incomparable Kapellmeister Bach" but we have only eight cantatas based on these texts, this cantata included. There is discussion whether the rest of the cycle is lost, or possibly never completed. After the cantata Alles nur nach Gottes Willen, BWV 72, performed on January 27th 1726, Bach took a break for the first time after two and a half years of weekly cantata composition (apart from periods of Tempus Clausum during Lent and Advent, when no music was performed in mass in Leipzig). The next few weeks he performed cantatas by his nephew Johann Ludwig Bach (1677-1731). He only resumed with new compositions in May of that year. | calendar-code: WBC14 liturgical-day: Epiphany III dayname-en: Epiphany III playlist-name: WBC14-Epiphany III list-all-cantatas: Herr, wie du willt, so schicks mit mir, BWV 73 (first performance 23 January 1724, Leipzig period) Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit, BWV 111 (first performance 21 January 1725, Leipzig period) Alles nur nach Gottes Willen, BWV 72 (first performance 27 January 1726, Leipzig period) Ich steh mit einem Fuß im Grabe, BWV 156 (first performance ?23 January 1729, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://mosaic.scdn.co/640/50bfccaee3a1f2d2f804b45757ff948b41181d8ca178e5b335ebc6d55e1c9016d615c8ac2501ebbdaee95d438f4a152e48bf5ef7658973a975f8acaff4652eb79da0ec79010e647b1b82462fa7628165 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/1da8HQy5DizCQndULLbM6x playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc14-third-sunday-after-epiphany/pl.865c44c5f8414ce68020c1a70bf4b144 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4016751902 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 156: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-156/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: leipzig-gedenktafel-picander.jpg image-caption: Memorial plaque in the Burgplatz in Leipzig for Christian Friedrich Henrici (January 14, 1700 – May 10, 1764), writing under his pen name Picander, author of the libretti of many Bach cantatas, including the Matthaeus Passion and the Coffee Cantata. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/49525545-602b-487e-87c0-4f433db7e0ff playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/18534647 cantata-day-occurrences: January 21 2024, January 26 2025, January 25 2026, January 24 2027, January 23 2028, January 21 2029, January 27 2030, January 26 2031, January 25 2032, January 23 2033, January 22 2034, January 27 2036, January 25 2037. cantata-day-calculation: The 3rd Sunday after Epiphany (January 6th). Liturgical period : Ordinary time I. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time I |
| 1192 | Epiphany IV | Epiphany IV is the fourth Sunday after Epiphany. This day only occurs in years with a late Easter. There was an Epiphany IV during Bach's first Leipzig cycle, so Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen?, BWV 81 was created on January 30, 1724. The text refers to the reading of the day from the Gospel of Matthew, the calming of storm on the sea of Galilee. The next cantata, Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit, BWV 14, was first performed on January 30 1735, a few weeks after he first performed the complete Christmas Oratorio. It is a chorale cantata, and an addition to the 1724-1725 chorale cantata cycle. In 1725 Easter fell rather early (April 1st), so there was no Epiphany IV, which explains why he did not write in that year. The cantata is based on a hymn by Martin Luther from 1524, and also evokes the storm at Galilee. As an illustration for this day's cantatas I've chosen The Storm on the Sea of Galilee, a painting from 1633 by Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669). It is Rembrandt's only known seascape. This work resided in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. In March 1980 it was stolen from the museum, along with 12 other works, which included a Vermeer, another Rembrandt, a Manet, and five paintings by Degas. To this day, the theft remains unsolved and the works are still lost. The Vermeer is considered the most valuable stolen piece of art. | calendar-code: WBC15 liturgical-day: Epiphany IV dayname-en: Epiphany IV playlist-name: WBC15-Epiphany IV list-all-cantatas: Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen?, BWV 81 (first performance 30 January 1724, Leipzig period) Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit, BWV 14 (first performance 30 January 1735, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/f1aa21b7b53568d471ae4ac778ccf224541eb4de playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/0DDRmfjdr1703TumM97KJM playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc15-fourth-sunday-after/pl.48430248955f4fe896e8f5f312a342a1 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4016825082 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 81: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-81/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: rembrandt-jesus-calming-storm.jpg image-caption: The Storm on the Sea of Galilee by Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669), subject of the libretti for the cantatas on Epiphany IV, BWV 81 and 14. It is Rembrandt's only known seascape. This painting was stolen in 1980 from a Boston museum, along with 12 others including a Vermeer, and remains lost. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/afb4ddff-bc6a-4d58-b35a-d3406d0ff1c5 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19774664 cantata-day-occurrences: February 2 2025, January 30 2028, February 3 2030, February 2 2031, January 30 2033, January 29 2034, February 3 2036. cantata-day-calculation: The 4th Sunday after Epiphany (January 6th), but only if it occurs before Septuagesima, the 70th day before Easter. Liturgical period : Ordinary time I. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time I |
| 1193 | Candlemas | Candlemas is a holy feast with roots in pagan rituals, just like Christmas. On Saint-Martin, November 11th, 40 days before Christmas, the candles were lit because it became too dark. On Candlemas, 40 days after Christmas, the light is there again so the candles can be snuffed out. But actually Candlemas was not a liturgical day in Bach's time. Rather it was the Purification of the Virgin Mary (Festo Purificationis Mariae), which was a Jewish tradition whereby a mother is considered impure until 40 days after the birth of her baby. On that day, she presents herself in the temple to be cleansed and to present her newborn: the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. The readings of St Luke for that day mention a pious Jew, Simeon, who was at the presentation, and who acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah in a joyous song, known as Simeon's Hymn (Canticum Simeonis). The theme of Simeon can be summarised as: I've seen the Messiah, I can die in peace. The texts of the cantatas for this day are based on these evangelical readings and Simeon's Hymn. It is noteworthy that none of the texts of these Candlemas cantatas focus on the Purification or the Presentation, but only the story of Simeon, which falls in line with the Lutheran view on mortality: a step to a better life without pain and anguish. First up is Komm, du süße Todesstunde, BWV 161, created in Weimar for Trinitatis XVI, so for a completely different occasion. But the subject of the cantata also suited Presentation, so Bach performed this cantata in Leipzig for that occasion between 1737 and 1746. Erfreute Zeit im neuen Bunde, BWV 83, is from the first Leipzig cycle. Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin, BWV 125, is from the chorale cantata cycle, using a hymn by Martin Luther. Ich habe genug, BWV 82, was written in 1727. Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn, BWV 157, was actually written for a funeral on February 6th 1727 (so you'll hear it again in four days), but because the text also evokes Simeon's theme, Bach performed it for Purification in later years. Finally, Der Friede sei mit dir, BWV 158, is a bit of a mystery. It is considered to be a cantata for Easter Tuesday (and it will feature in the playlist then), but might have been originally written for Purification. So possibly it are parts of two different cantata projects that Bach put together. Also the date is uncertain - it may date from the Weimar period but a date as late as 1735 has been proposed. | calendar-code: WBCF0202 liturgical-day: Candlemas dayname-en: Candlemas playlist-name: WBCF0202-Candlemas list-all-cantatas: Komm, du süße Todesstunde, BWV 161 (first performance ? 27 September 1716, Weimar period) Erfreute Zeit im neuen Bunde, BWV 83 (first performance 2 February 1724, Leipzig period) Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin, BWV 125 (first performance 2 February 1725, Leipzig period) Ich habe genug, BWV 82 (first performance 2 February 1727, Leipzig period) Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn, BWV 157 (first performance 6 February 1727, Leipzig period) Der Friede sei mit dir, BWV 158 (first performance 1730? mostly lost, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://mosaic.scdn.co/640/17f17212c58d55ad57424a72824dc8f35f28125543e339a7e1afb67734cfb0475971db8ab41226e6ab1b7a586efaa609e0fb0ff0479cf8cc02534d68f1aa21b7b53568d471ae4ac778ccf224541eb4de playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7It7XXbqZ6CvTs4f8qLrrn?si=w6HnLui4Si-vY56HlzzYQA playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0202-candlemas/pl.52af008f437b4be3ae8bb1a334823a5d playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4035833542 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 82 and BWV 83: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-82/ https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-83/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: presentation-temple-daret.jpg image-caption: The Presentation in the Temple, painting by Jacques Daret from around 1434. The figure with the long grey beard is Simeon. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/2444a378-08ba-467f-9e3f-af665e9a00eb playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/18710300 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every February 2nd. Liturgical period : Ordinary time I. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time I |
| 1194 | Septuagesima | Septuagesima gets its name because it is less than 70 days (but more than 60) until Easter. It is also the 3rd Sunday before Ash Wednesday. This pre-Lent period, Shrovetide, was for Bach and his contemporaries the countdown to one of the most sacred periods in the liturgical calendar. No wonder he created important cantatas for this day, all of them from the Leipzig period. Nimm, was dein ist, und gehe hin, BWV 144, and Ich bin vergnügt mit meinem Glücke, BWV 84, are both based on the Evangelical reading of the day from Matthew, the parable of the workers in the vineyard, which summons Christians to be content with what God gives them. Ich hab in Gottes Herz und Sinn, BWV 92, is from Bach's chorale cantata cycle, and is based on a hymn from 1647 by Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676), a German theologian, Lutheran minister and hymnodist. It is Bach's only cantata based on a hymn by Gerhardt. | calendar-code: WBC17 liturgical-day: Septuagesima dayname-en: Septuagesima - Third Sunday before Ash Wednesday playlist-name: WBC17-Septuagesima - Third Sunday before Ash Wednesday list-all-cantatas: Nimm, was dein ist, und gehe hin, BWV 144 (first performance 6 February 1724, Leipzig period) Ich hab in Gottes Herz und Sinn, BWV 92 (first performance 28 January 1725, Leipzig period) Ich bin vergnügt mit meinem Glücke, BWV 84 (first performance 9 February 1727, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/22e42fe150ad9c32c4988d14da388a6a062a3b51 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/4FhjZNVUdf6en0tPg9J7dA playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc17-septuagesima/pl.ad463be830184a609d8ca41ce78d0ad2 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4042517422 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and performances of BWV 84 and BWV 144: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-84/ https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-144/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: parable-workers-vineyard-johann-christian-brand.jpg image-caption: The parable of the workers in the vineyard by Austrian painter Johann Christian Brand (1722-1795). google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/bc2bd5e4-a504-41e1-9c4c-2b5a4d6c3dba playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/18563522 cantata-day-occurrences: January 28 2024, February 16 2025, February 1 2026, January 24 2027, February 13 2028, January 28 2029, February 17 2030, February 9 2031, January 25 2032, February 13 2033, February 5 2034, January 21 2035, February 10 2036, February 1 2037. cantata-day-calculation: The 70th day before Easter. Liturgical period : Ordinary time I. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time I |
| 1195 | Sexagesima | Sexagesima is the second Sunday before Ash Wednesday, and falls less than 60 days before Easter. One step closer to the beginning of Lent. Three cantatas for you on this day, an earlier one from the Weimar period, and two from Leipzig. Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee vom Himmel fällt, BWV 18, is a very early Weimar cantata, probably created in 1713, with a young Bach experimenting with the new Italian musical style elements he got to know through work by Vivaldi. This cantata was performed again more than ten years later in Leipzig, at which point he changed the instrumentation somewhat. This later setting is the one used for most recordings, but the performance by La Petite Bande in your playlist uses the original Weimar setting, confirmed to me by Sigiswald Kuijken himself. Leichtgesinnte Flattergeister, BWV 181, is from the first Leipzig cycle, and is a very short cantata, probably because it was performed together with Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee vom Himmel fällt, BWV 18 (in the Leipzig setting), one before and one after the sermon. Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort, BWV 126, is from one year later from the chorale cantata cycle. It uses a hymn originally written by Martin Luther in 1536, but expanded (with a different melody) by Justus Jonas, followed by part of another Luther hymn, and another Luther hymn makes up the end. So a hymn based on four sources and three melodies. | calendar-code: WBC18 liturgical-day: Sexagesima dayname-en: Sexagesima playlist-name: WBC18-Sexagesima list-all-cantatas: Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee vom Himmel fällt, BWV 18 (first performance 19 February 1713?, Weimar period) Leichtgesinnte Flattergeister, BWV 181 (first performance 13 February 1724, Leipzig period) Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort, BWV 126 (first performance 4 February 1725, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/e5431ec3d7e96a75726849d96b5f5b877bfc8b3f playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/2MIEEwB7ercDh9dgGxEdhJ playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc18-sexagesima/pl.f58f6496ebc14ec8a1eb02ff744db472 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4074589782 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 18: https://www.bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-18/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: weimar-herderplatz-1840.jpg image-caption: A view of the Herderplatz in Weimar from the southeast (etching by L. Oeder, 1840). The church of Saint-Paul and Saint-Peter, also known as the Herderkirche, saw the premieres of several Bach cantatas. John Eliot Gardiner suggests that Bach cantatas using a festive orchestra were first performed there, including his first cantata for Christmas, Christen, ätzet diesen Tag, BWV 63 and Der Himmel lacht! Die Erde jubilieret, BWV 31 for the Easter Sunday of 1715, scored for soloists, a five-part choir and three instrumental groups. Bach frequently played the organ, and two of his sons were baptized in the church. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/766bd7aa-085a-414a-8a7a-d4fa2965d938 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/18711181 cantata-day-occurrences: February 4 2024, February 23 2025, February 8 2026, January 31 2027, February 20 2028, February 4 2029, February 24 2030, February 16 2031, February 1 2032, February 20 2033, February 12 2034, January 28 2035, February 17 2036, February 8 2037. cantata-day-calculation: The 60th day before Easter. Liturgical period : Ordinary time I. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time I |
| 1196 | Quinquagesima | This cantata day is for Quinquagesima or Estomihi or Shrove Sunday. Quinquagesima because we are 50 days before Easter, Estomihi refers to the opening verse of the Introit for the day, Psalm 31:3: "Esto mihi in Deum protectorem". It is the last Sunday before Lent, and Lent (like Advent) falls under Tempus Clausum, a penitential period focused on self-reflection, prayer, penance and repentance. No extravagant celebrations were allowed (like big weddings), and in Leipzig there was also no music in mass. Lucky for us Weimar did not observe that rule. Bach has four cantatas for this day, all from the Leipzig period. Philippe Herreweghe and the Collegium Vocale recorded these cantatas on one CD, so as an exception I've chosen only one performer for this cantata day. Important to note as well is that the first two cantatas, BWV 22 and BWV23, are the audition pieces Bach composed for the position of Thomas cantor in Leipzig. Originally, Leipzig offered the position to Georg Philip Telemann, at that point the most highly regarded German composer, but he turned the offer down because he got a promotion and higher wages at the court in Hamburg. The city council then had a selection of seven other candidates (including Johann Friedrich Fasch) but they could not agree among themselves if they wanted a good teacher at the Thomasschule or a good musical director. So they opened up the position for sollications. Two composers react: Christoph Graupner and Bach. Because Lent and Tempus Clausum was nearly there, the council had Graupner perform on the second Sunday after Epiphany and Bach three weeks later on Quinquagesima. The council was in favour of Graupner, probably even before his audition. Graupner was a former student of the Thomasschule who studied under Schelle and Kuhnau, excelling in all required musical forms. But the council feared that he would not be released by his current employer, Landgrave Ernst Ludwig of Hesse-Darmstadt, so they wrote a letter to the Landgrave even before formally appointing Graupner to the post (and before Bach's audition), which provoked the anticipated response that indeed Graupner would not be released. Graupner had no choice but to stay in Darmstadt, but, good for him, with a better contract as a result. Whether Bach knew any of this when he auditioned is open for speculation, but he must have realised that Graupner was formidable competition for the position. A local newspaper printed that the Bach cantatas "have been highly praised by all those who judge such things". With Bach's good audition and Graupner not being available, the offer was extended to Bach, who accepts. He is released by the Köthen court and travels to Leipzig with his family and his belongings (which took four wagons and two carriages according to a local paper) and settles in the newly renovated apartment in the Thomasschule on May 30th. The rest is history, with a lot of magnificent music for us to enjoy. Thanks to subscriber Robin Klupp Taylor for clarifying some of the events surrounding the appointment! | calendar-code: WBC19 liturgical-day: Quinquagesima dayname-en: Quinquagesima or Estomihi playlist-name: WBC19-Quinquagesima or Estomihi list-all-cantatas: Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe, BWV 22 (first performance 7 February 1723, Leipzig period) Du wahrer Gott und Davids Sohn, BWV 23 (first performance 7 February 1723, Leipzig period) Herr Jesu Christ, wahr' Mensch und Gott, BWV 127 (first performance 11 February 1725, Leipzig period) Sehet, wir gehn hinauf gen Jerusalem, BWV 159 (first performance ? 27 February 1729, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/5dc80084618a6e83cee77f1d78c069e71fca6274 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/6NPRaeXS22XvrBsXnEIsD2 playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc19-quinquagesima-or-estomihi/pl.d93c637957fd440d9d6a10214f8b7d92 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4120952162 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and performances of BWV 22, 23 and 159: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-22/ https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-23/ https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-159/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: thomaskirche-bach-statue-4.jpg image-caption: The statue of Johann Sebastian Bach next to the Thomaskirche in Leipzig. When Bach came to Leipzig to audition for the position as Thomaskantor, he could not have imagined that many centuries later a statue would be erected for him outside the church. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/034325ff-52e7-42c5-8974-d59761e199f4 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/18718915 cantata-day-occurrences: February 11 2024, March 2 2025, February 15 2026, February 7 2027, February 27 2028, February 11 2029, March 3 2030, February 23 2031, February 8 2032, February 27 2033, February 19 2034, February 4 2035, February 24 2036, February 15 2037. cantata-day-calculation: The 50th day before Easter. Liturgical period : Ordinary time I. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time I |
| 1197 | Invocabit | Invocabit is the first Sunday of Lent. In Leipzig, the longest and most productive period in Bach's life as a composer, Tempus Clausum (abstinence, no festivities...) was observed very strictly during Lent, so no music was performed in mass. Weimar did not observe this rule during Tempus Clausum, as you will see in a few weeks. All this to say that there are no Bach cantatas for this day, and many Sundays up until Palm Sunday. But I would not want your Sunday morning to go without heavenly music, so I'm making some personal choices for your entertainment. There are many cantatas of which it is not perfectly known for what occasion they were created, and it would be a shame not to present them to you, so I've picked three cantatas for this day. First off is Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit, BWV 106, a very early cantata from the Mühlhausen period, so created in 1707-1708 for an unknown occasion. It is very likely that this is Bach's oldest cantata, because stilistical analysis puts it earlier than BWV 4 or 131. However, the oldest surviving copy was made after Bach's lifetime, in 1768. Bach was 22 years old when he composed this cantata, most likely for a funeral service, possibly for someone very close to him. From a funeral we move to a wedding occasion, and from one of the earliest Bach cantatas we move to possibly the very last cantata he ever worked on, Dem Gerechten muß das Licht, BWV 195, dating from 1748. Or at least, it might be, the only surviving copy dates from 1748, but there are indications he might have created the cantata in 1727. In 1748, Bach was focusing on his last magnum opus, the Hohe Messe, and this cantata is a work he made in between. He only composed the recitatives and had his copyists paste already existing chorals and aria's into the work. Nonetheless a very luxurious cantata with a rather large orchestral setting, so the marriage couple must have been important. Interesting to know is that Bach wrote over 60 wedding cantatas, mostly for well-off families who could affort the substantial fee. But of those 60 cantatas only 3 remain fully intact. Lastly, Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan, BWV 100, one of the three cantatas with the same name, based on a poem by Samuel Rodigast (1649-1708), which Rodigast wrote as a consolation for a friend, the cantor from Jena, Severus Gastorius (1646-1682), very ill at the time. Gastorius was so moved by the text, that when he recovered he wrote a melody to it, which made it famous and used several times by Bach as an opening choral. It is unknown for what kind of occasion Bach wrote this cantata. | calendar-code: WBC20 liturgical-day: Invocabit dayname-en: 1st Sunday of Lent or Invocabit playlist-name: WBC20-1st Sunday of Lent or Invocabit list-all-cantatas: Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit, BWV 106 (first performance ? 1707–08, Mühlhausen period) Dem Gerechten muß das Licht, BWV 195 (first performance 1727–31?, Leipzig period) Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan, BWV 100 (first performance ? 1732–1735, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273a94b3e5e5d4e6d7747ba281d playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2aDd1K42asjNjanPQfc2Yg?si=AbD75DZiRweQELqIzi-5tQ playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc20-1st-sunday-of-lent-or-invocabit/pl.1fccb0c67b4b4d98bb12af2c406c0901 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4123299382 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 106 and BWV 100: https://www.bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-106/ https://www.bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-100/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: monument-bach-by-mendelssohn-1843.jpg image-caption: Woodcarving print based on an aquarel by Eduard Bendemann (1850) of the monument for Bach in Leipzig, erected by Felix Mendelssohn in 1843. It may very well be the only example of a monument erected by a composer to honour another. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/4c900664-99fe-4ac8-b90f-614dc2c02f83 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/18957181 cantata-day-occurrences: February 18 2024, March 9 2025, February 22 2026, February 14 2027, March 5 2028, February 18 2029, March 10 2030, March 2 2031, February 15 2032, March 6 2033, February 26 2034, February 11 2035, March 2 2036, February 22 2037. cantata-day-calculation: The 1st Sunday of Lent, 1st Sunday after Ash Wednesday. Liturgical period : Lent. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Lent |
| 1198 | Reminiscere | Reminiscere is the 2nd Sunday of Lent. Because of Tempus Clausum, which meant no music in massd in his prolific Leipzig period, again no cantatas survive for this day (I'll be repeating myself a couple more Sundays I'm afraid). So I'm filling your Sunday playlist with three more cantatas that have an unknown occasion or first performance date. First up is Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich, BWV 150, one of Bach's earliest cantatas from his period as court organist in Mühlhausen, most likely written as a homage to or for the birthday of the mayor of Mühlhausen, who supported his appointment. The verses contain an achrosticon (the first letter of each line spells out a word) that was long hidden through a spelling mistake in the manuscript with the name of the mayor: Doktor Conrad Meckbach. Next we have O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe, BWV 34a, a marriage cantate of which only fragments remain, and Helmut Rilling has the only recent recording of these 3 fragments. Unfortunately Deezer and Qobuz do not have this work available, so there I've selected O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe, BWV 34, the cantata for Whit Sunday (Pentecost) which was derived from 34a. Finally Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut, BWV 117, one of the about ten choral cantatas which Bach wrote in later Leipzig years to complete the choral cantata cycle of 1724-1725, which he ended abruptly with 10 cantatas short, most likely because his librettist passed away. Because the manuscript is missing the front page, we do not know for which liturgical Sunday it was intended, nor in what year it was composed; most likely between 1728 and 1731. | calendar-code: WBC21 liturgical-day: Reminiscere dayname-en: 2nd Sunday of Lent or Reminiscere playlist-name: WBC21-2nd Sunday of Lent or Reminiscere list-all-cantatas: Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich, BWV 150 (first performance ? before 1707, Mühlhausen period) O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe, BWV 34a (first performance 1726, Leipzig period) Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut, BWV 117 (first performance ? 1728–1731, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b2733df20f4f6c57dbfd6938374f playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2VSqipPYftnQBsChgETUnw?si=nm8RB_z5Rn-aiEn6ncJZSw playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc21-2nd-sunday-of-lent-or-reminiscere/pl.f3db1f5304d541e0a04946bfc65b0d5f playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4123411482 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 150: https://www.bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-150/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: raoul-dufy-hommage-bach-painting.jpg image-caption: Hommage to Bach, a painting by French Fauvist painter Raoul Dufy (1877-1953). Dufy has made several paintings honouring classical composers. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/030a452f-5486-4613-988e-49dcc6e8f4ce playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/18957239 cantata-day-occurrences: February 25 2024, March 16 2025, March 1 2026, February 21 2027, March 12 2028, February 25 2029, March 17 2030, March 9 2031, February 22 2032, March 13 2033, March 5 2034, February 18 2035, March 9 2036, March 1 2037. cantata-day-calculation: The 2nd Sunday of Lent, 2nd Sunday after Ash Wednesday. Liturgical period : Lent. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Lent |
| 1199 | Oculi | Oculi is the 3rd Sunday of Lent. In Leipzig there is still Tempus Clausum (no music in mass), but luckily 2 cantatas survive from the Weimar period, where Tempus Clausum was not observed. Although there is discussion if the first cantata (Widerstehe doch der Sünde, BWV 54) was indeed written for Oculi. Others place it at Trinitatis VII (first performance July 15th 1714), but John Eliot Gardiner and others have reason to place it on Oculi of that same year, so it's Gardiner's English Baroque Soloists & Monteverdi Choir that perform this cantata for you. This makes this cantata also the first cantata after Bach received his commission in Weimar. It is also his earliest cantata for a solo voice (alto in this case). The music for the second cantata, Alles, was von Gott geboren, BWV 80a, is lost. But Bach reworked the original score and expanded on it to create his well-known cantata Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott, BWV 80, performed in Leipzig for Reformation Day (October 31st). Because Leipzig had Tempus Clausum, Bach could not re-use the cantata for the same purpose, and so he used it for Reformation Day. Never let a good cantata go to waste, I guess? | calendar-code: WBC22 liturgical-day: Oculi dayname-en: 3rd Sunday of Lent or Oculi playlist-name: WBC22-3rd Sunday of Lent or Oculi list-all-cantatas: Widerstehe doch der Sünde, BWV 54 (first performance 4 March 1714?, Weimar period) Alles, was von Gott geboren, BWV 80a (first performance 24 March 1715 or 15 March 1716 - music lost, Weimar period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/02f2f551bc77757dc921437135fc5023078a18d0 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/1pl7Q62X8xFVBzvvgvutu2 playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc22-3rd-sunday-of-lent-or-oculi/pl.bd3188417b3b443c905956b9356a7ecf playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4123594582 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 54: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-54/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: weimar-bach-house-plaque.jpg image-caption: Remembrance plaque marking the spot where Bach's house stood in Weimar. That location is now... a parking lot. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/38e25927-3cc1-47f1-add1-34313c246777 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/18957315 cantata-day-occurrences: March 3 2024, March 23 2025, March 8 2026, February 28 2027, March 19 2028, March 4 2029, March 24 2030, March 16 2031, February 29 2032, March 20 2033, March 12 2034, February 25 2035, March 16 2036, March 8 2037. cantata-day-calculation: The 3rd Sunday of Lent, 3rd Sunday after Ash Wednesday. Liturgical period : Lent. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Lent |
| 1200 | Annunciation | This day marks the holy feast of Annunciation, nine months before Christmas. It was the only day during Lent on which Tempus Clausum was not observed in Leipzig, so music was permitted in Church. I am convinced that that must have been a relief for Bach. Two beautiful cantatas for this day. Himmelskönig, sei willkommen, BWV 182, was the first cantata Bach created after he got the promotion from organist to court composer at the Weimar court. That year, 1714, Annunciation and Palm Sunday fell on the same day, which is why the libretto is referring to the entry of Jesus in Jerusalem. This cantata was performed again on the first Annunciation Bach celebrated in Leipzig, on 25 March 1724. Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1, has this special BWV number only by pure coincidence that this was the first of about ten cantatas the Bach Gesellschaft chose to publish in 1851. It is part of the choral cantata cycle, with a hymn by Philipp Nicolai (1556–1608), and because again Palm Sunday coincided with Annunciation, the libretto hints to both occasions. But it is also the last cantata Bach composed in the choral cantata cycle, possibly because his librettist passed away. | calendar-code: WBCF0325 liturgical-day: Annunciation dayname-en: Annunciation playlist-name: WBCF0325-Annunciation list-all-cantatas: Himmelskönig, sei willkommen, BWV 182 (first performance 25 March 1714, Weimar period) Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1 (first performance 25 March 1725, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ff478b3b9216d36c1d1d2b5481fc6e218dfa8cdf playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/3dgRColB0ZDKoedPU9rNT3 playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0325-annunciation/pl.b530e96f9397443f8f3e776ad4c3c520 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/5574215422 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: jan-van-eyck-the-annunciation.jpg image-caption: The Annunciation (1434–1436) by Jan Van Eyck (c.1390-1441), National Gallery of Art, Washington DC. It is thought that it was the left (inner) wing of a triptych; there has been no sighting of the other wings since before 1817. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/a7ea6163-65a9-4aa0-a043-721a485dc114 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19433305 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every March 25th. Liturgical period : Ordinary time I. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time I |
| 1201 | Laetare | Again no cantatas this Sunday because of Tempus Clausum. So for your enjoyment I've selected three more cantatas for which no orignal occasion or first performance date is known. Bach wrote the first cantata, Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir, BWV 131, at the tender age of 22 in 1708 in Mühlhausen, making it one of the earliest Bach cantatas. Bach was employed as organist in the Divi Blasii church, but this cantata was commissioned by the pastor of the Marienkirche, maybe for the town council's inauguration, or possibly for a penitential service for a great fire that had ravaged Mühlhausen just before Bach arrived. Nun danket alle Gott, BWV 192, was written in 1730 in Leipzig and is a late addition to the 1725-1725 choral cantata cycle. Some scholars put the first performance on Trinitatis (the first Sunday after Pentecost), but there seems to be evidence for an unknown occasion in the autumn of that year. It is a short cantata with only three movements, because it follows the stanzas and the libretto of the hymn it is based on (this technique is called 'per omnes versus'). Is O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht, BWV 118, a cantata or a motet? It has only one movement but was ranked as a cantata in the 19th century by the Bach Gesellschaft; the Neue Bach-Ausgabe however considers it a motet, even though it has an instrumental part. Well, I think it deserves a spot in my calendar. | calendar-code: WBC23 liturgical-day: Laetare dayname-en: 4th Sunday of Lent or Laetare playlist-name: WBC23-4th Sunday of Lent or Laetare list-all-cantatas: Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir, BWV 131 (first performance ? 1707, Mühlhausen period) Nun danket alle Gott, BWV 192 (first performance ? Autumn 1730, Leipzig period) O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht, BWV 118 (first performance ? 1736/1737, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b2735aa9b6584fba627451ee1222 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/21BRvm65YFS4FgwQi1RTe1?si=Hru5GbJ0TzyGUH6oHjrgmQ playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc23-4th-sunday-of-lent-or-laetare/pl.u-e9JrDuAjv2M playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4183240922 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: muehlhausen-marienkirche-interior.jpg image-caption: The interior of the Marienkirche in Mühlhausen, where the cantata Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir, BWV 131, was first performed in 1707. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ad0a2e79-093c-4bd4-8631-7bfc309ab4ae playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/18957334 cantata-day-occurrences: March 10 2024, March 30 2025, March 15 2026, March 7 2027, March 26 2028, March 11 2029, March 31 2030, March 23 2031, March 7 2032, March 27 2033, March 19 2034, March 4 2035, March 23 2036, March 15 2037. cantata-day-calculation: The 4th Sunday of Lent, 4th Sunday after Ash Wednesday. Liturgical period : Lent. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Lent |
| 1202 | Judica | Judica is the 5th (and last) Sunday of Lent. Yes, you guessed it, still Tempus Clausum in Leipzig (no music allowed in mass) so no original cantata for this day. Which means I have to come up with a playlist for your enjoyment, with two cantatas with unknown first performance dates or occasions. Both are very late cantatas, long after his most prolific cantata creation period, the first three years in Leipzig. In allen meinen Taten, BWV 97, dates from 1734 and is a choral cantata, one of the dozen cantatas he wrote in later years to complete that cycle which he started in 1724 but ended prematurely in 1725, possibly due to the death of his main collaborator and librettist, Andreas Stübel, on January 31st of that year. Author of the hymn is Paul Fleming (1609-1640). Only the aria remains of the cantata Bekennen will ich seinen Namen, BWV 200, dating from 1742. The piece was only discovered in 1924 and published in 1935. I've chosen the outstanding countertenor Andreas Scholl as performer of this aria. | calendar-code: WBC24 liturgical-day: Judica dayname-en: 5th Sunday of Lent or Judica playlist-name: WBC24-5th Sunday of Lent or Judica list-all-cantatas: In allen meinen Taten, BWV 97 (first performance ? 1734, Leipzig period) Bekennen will ich seinen Namen, BWV 200 (first performance ? 1742, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273a8982ea3044fe15ce2ff3379 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/572UI951jTFD13rsIvqhov?si=pfx9stbmST-LUps5xheMIg playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc24-5th-sunday-of-lent-or-judica/pl.2af5e7e1de46417882693a535be71f48 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4249148802 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 97: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-97 extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: paul-fleming-hartenstein-rathaus.jpg image-caption: The statue of Paul Fleming (1609-1640) in front of the city hall of Hartenstein. Fleming wrote the hymn on which In allen meinen Taten, BWV 97, is based. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/d1f927a5-51cd-452f-886b-88161804247c playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19246949 cantata-day-occurrences: March 17 2024, April 6 2025, March 22 2026, March 14 2027, April 2 2028, March 18 2029, April 7 2030, March 30 2031, March 14 2032, April 3 2033, March 26 2034, March 11 2035, March 30 2036, March 22 2037. cantata-day-calculation: The 5th Sunday of Lent, 5th Sunday after Ash Wednesday. Liturgical period : Lent. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Lent |
| 1203 | Palm Sunday | Palm Sunday or Palmarum is the Sunday before Easter. This day still falls under Tempus Clausum, but luckily we have two cantatas for this day, both from years when Palm Sunday fell on the day of Annunciation (March 25th), the only day during Lent when music was permitted in mass in Leipzig. So I can present the two cantates created for Annunciation: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1 and Himmelskönig, sei willkommen, BWV 182, a cantata from the Weimar period. You can read more information about these cantatas in my post for Annunciation: https://whichbachcantata.be/cantata-days/annunciation.html But because Annunciation is so close to Palm Sunday, I've added something else to this day's playllist. In 1899 Willem Mengelberg, conducting the Concertgebouw Orchestra, first performed the Matthaeus Passion on Palm Sunday at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. This tradition continues to this day, with a yearly performance on Palm Sunday not only of the Matthaeus but also the Johannes Passion. For many years, together with close family, I attended that performance in Amsterdam, which for me was always very emotional. So I've added the Johannes Passion to the playlist, less known and performed than the Matthaeus, but equally deserving. I'm presenting the 1724 version, but Bach made minor changes to it several times later on. To be clear and accurate, the Johannes Passion was first performed on Good Friday 1724, but on Good Friday I'm already presenting you the Matthaeus... And 2 passions on one day may be a bit too much, no? | calendar-code: WBC25 liturgical-day: Palm Sunday dayname-en: Palm Sunday or Palmarum playlist-name: WBC25-Palm Sunday or Palmarum list-all-cantatas: Himmelskönig, sei willkommen, BWV 182 (first performance 25 March 1714, Weimar period) Passio secundum Joannem, BWV 245 (first performance 7 april 1724, Leipzig period) Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1 (first performance 25 March 1725, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ff478b3b9216d36c1d1d2b5481fc6e218dfa8cdf playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/4344sFHoOuEudKGHh6HIJ4 playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc25-palm-sunday-or-palmarum/pl.e14791df0b93413e89331d1710be369b playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4270243882 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 245, the Johannes Passion: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-245/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: giotto-entry-into-jerusalem.jpg image-caption: The Entry into Jerusalem, 14th century painting by Giotto (c.1267-1337). google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/16c5520c-99e5-4caa-979b-52c8618dd790 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19424861 cantata-day-occurrences: March 24 2024, April 13 2025, March 29 2026, March 21 2027, April 9 2028, March 25 2029, April 14 2030, April 6 2031, March 21 2032, April 10 2033, April 2 2034, March 18 2035, April 6 2036, March 29 2037. cantata-day-calculation: Sunday before Easter. Liturgical period : Lent. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Lent |
| 1204 | Good Friday | Good Friday or Passionis Domini is the opener of Easter weekend, and the end of Lent. A very important liturgical holiday, marking the death of Jesus Christ. The performance of a passion oratorio was customary at that time, with notable works from composers like Händel, Telemann or Fasch. Bach's Matthaeus Passion, BWV 244, is of course a monumental work, often performed and well-loved around the world. It was probably first performed for the Vespers of Good Friday on April 11th, 1727, in the Thomas Kirche in Leipzig. I've chosen a recording by John Eliot Gardiner, the English Baroque Soloists and the Monteverdi Choir, but there are so many great recordings to choose from, like the minimalistic recording by La Petite Bande, where the soloists also perform the choir parts as was possibly the case in Bach's time. | calendar-code: WBC26 liturgical-day: Good Friday dayname-en: Good Friday or Passionis Domini playlist-name: WBC26-Good Friday or Passionis Domini list-all-cantatas: Passio secundum Matthaeum, BWV 244 (first performance 11 April 1727, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/cf306501f45a39e32cf78a04b9409285a9c58752 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/0SvgWfu5LVmtUZPkmGkor7 playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc26-good-friday-or-passionis-domini/pl.3c813e137c1547b3b4030433ea01f3bf playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4270480222 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 244, the Matthaeus Passion: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-244/. You can also find this performance on their Youtube channel: httpss://youtu.be/ZwVW1ttVhuQ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: weimar-herderkirche-cranach-altarpiece.jpg image-caption: Central panel of the altarpiece in the Herderkirche in Weimar. The remarkable triptych was begun by Lucas Cranach the Elder in 1552/53, shortly before his death, and completed in 1555 by his son Lucas Cranach the Younger. It is regarded as a major work of art of the 16th century in Saxony and Thuringia. You can see Martin Luther on the right holding a bible. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/8f96ca9a-c0b4-418c-b232-da5d496d8d80 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19433320 cantata-day-occurrences: March 29 2024, April 18 2025, April 3 2026, March 26 2027, April 14 2028, March 30 2029, April 19 2030, April 11 2031, March 26 2032, April 15 2033, April 7 2034, March 23 2035, April 11 2036, April 3 2037. cantata-day-calculation: Friday before Easter. Liturgical period : Lent. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Lent |
| 1205 | Easter | Easter marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the most important liturgical holiday of the year. So there are several Bach Easter cantatas for you, two earlier ones from the Mühlhausen and Weimar period, and a special Easter Oratorium composed in Leipzig. Christ lag in Todes Banden, BWV 4, is possibly the oldest surviving Bach cantata, probably dating from 1707, when he applied for the posting in Mühlhausen. It is based on a hymn by Martin Luther, and follows the lyrics without any variation ("per omnes versus"). Der Himmel lacht! Die Erde jubilieret, BWV 31, dates from the Weimar period, first performed on Easter 1715. Bach performed it several times again later on in Leipzig. It is a cantata with a very rich and festive setting. The first version of the Easter Oratorio was completed as a cantata for Easter Sunday in Leipzig on 1 April 1725, then under the title Kommt, gehet und eilet. It was named "oratorio" and given the new title only in a version revised in 1735. In a later version in the 1740s the third movement was expanded from a duet to a four-part chorus. The work is based on a secular cantata, the so-called Shepherd Cantata Entfliehet, verschwindet, entweichet, ihr Sorgen, BWV 249a, which is now lost, although the libretto survives. Its author is Picander who is also likely the author of the oratorio's text. The work is opened by two instrumental movements that are probably taken from a concerto of the Köthen period. It seems possible that the third movement is based on the concerto's finale. Unlike the Christmas Oratorio, the Easter Oratorio has no narrator but has four characters assigned to the four voice parts: Simon Peter (tenor) and John the Apostle (bass), appearing in the first duet hurrying to Jesus' grave and finding it empty, meeting there Mary Magdalene (alto) and "the other Mary", Mary Jacobe (soprano). The choir was present only in the final movement until a later performance in the 1740s when the opening duet was set partly for four voices. The music is festively scored for three trumpets, timpani, two oboes, oboe d'amore, bassoon, two recorders, transverse flute, two violins, viola and continuo. (Source: Wikipedia) | calendar-code: WBC28 liturgical-day: Easter dayname-en: Easter playlist-name: WBC28-Easter list-all-cantatas: Christ lag in Todes Banden, BWV 4 (first performance probably 24 April 1707, Mühlhausen period) Der Himmel lacht! Die Erde jubilieret, BWV 31 (first performance 21 April 1715, Weimar period) Oster-Oratorium, BWV 249 (first performance 1 April 1725, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/4d84dadef5ac7b0f8386957e910a27baf9080fbd playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/6JYajOJxxWgMvXGSJVcX0Q playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc28-easter/pl.2edb192102be44cc8a430f8f630ddd7d playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4277687422 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 249, the Oster Oratorium: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-249/. extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: resurrection-of-christ-paolo-veronese-1570.jpg image-caption: The resurrection of Christ by Paolo Veronese, around 1570, Dresden, Gemäldegalerie. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/b41519ce-dcb6-44c8-9997-a7dbd469e1bc playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19433350 cantata-day-occurrences: March 31 2024, April 20 2025, April 5 2026, March 28 2027, April 16 2028, April 1 2029, April 21 2030, April 13 2031, March 28 2032, April 17 2033, April 9 2034, March 25 2035, April 13 2036, April 5 2037. cantata-day-calculation: Easter (1st Sunday after the first full moon of spring). Liturgical period : Easter. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Easter |
| 1206 | Easter Monday | For Easter Monday, the second of the three festive Easter days, Bach left us two cantatas, both from the Leipzig period. They are both based on the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, which happens on the day after Easter in the gospel according to St Luke. Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, BWV 66, is a parody cantata from his first Easter period in Leipzig, based on the celebratory cantata Der Himmel dacht auf Anhalts Ruhm und Glück, BWV 66a, which he wrote in Köthen for his employer, Prince Leopold von Anhalt-Köthen. With a new libretto, he reused the music of the first four parts, made the final chorus of 66a into the opening chorus of 66 and added a final chorale to make the cantata more solemn. Unfortunately of that first version only the lyrics survive, we have now a version dating from 1735 to which he made a few musical changes. Although Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden, BWV 6, was composed in 1725 during his chorale cantata cycle period, it is not based on a hymn, but rather follows the structure of a classic Leipzig cantata. | calendar-code: WBC29 liturgical-day: Easter Monday dayname-en: Easter Monday playlist-name: WBC29-Easter Monday list-all-cantatas: Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, BWV 66 (first performance 10 April 1724, Leipzig period) Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden, BWV 6 (first performance 2 April 1725, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/f5b91f4cab9d244b256e0ac3136d15e24b093a4d playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/0RM3AQvOHsqjaSDq1l9Lq5 playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc29-easter-monday/pl.6195825a3ef545c79654d6c56d69528b playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4281723802 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 6: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-6/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: christ-with-two-disciples-emmaus-ivory-relief.jpg image-caption: Christ with two disciples on the road to Emmaus and braking the bread at the evening meal, Carolingian ivory relief from around 900-950, Metz, France. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/0d11f730-8a87-4cd5-a84a-89c784994e1d playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19434391 cantata-day-occurrences: April 1 2024, April 21 2025, April 6 2026, March 29 2027, April 17 2028, April 2 2029, April 22 2030, April 14 2031, March 29 2032, April 18 2033, April 10 2034, March 26 2035, April 14 2036, April 6 2037. cantata-day-calculation: Monday after Easter. Liturgical period : Easter. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Easter |
| 1207 | Easter Tuesday | For Easter Tuesday, the third day of the Easter celebrations, Bach left us three cantatas, all from the Leipzig period, but based on material dating back to Weimar and Köthen. Ein Herz, das seinen Jesum lebend weiß, BWV 134 is a parody on a worldly cantata, Die Zeit, die Tag und Jahre macht, BWV 134a, composed in Köthen for New Year's Day. The cantata yesterday, Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, BWV 66, was also a parody. The reason is simple: both BWV 66 and BWV 134 date from 1724, and on that preceding Good Friday Bach performed the Johannes Passion for the first time. He managed to balance all this work by performing older work from Weimar and Köthen on Easter, and for Monday and Tuesday he used these parodies. Understandable! Ich lebe, mein Herze, zu deinem Ergötzen, BWV 145, is one of the ten surviving Picander cantatas, which was probably performed on Easter Tuesday 1729. There is no original manuscript, and it seems very likely that Carl Philip Emmanuel Bach altered the score somewhat, possibly reusing other material. You already heard Der Friede sei mit dir, BWV 158, on Candlemas, because it is uncertain if it was written for the one or the other. It is presumed to be from 1730, but a Weimar date and a date as late as 1735 have also been proposed, as well that this cantata are actually pieces from two other cantata projects. | calendar-code: WBC30 liturgical-day: Easter Tuesday dayname-en: Easter Tuesday playlist-name: WBC30-Easter Tuesday list-all-cantatas: Ein Herz, das seinen Jesum lebend weiß, BWV 134 (first performance 11 April 1724, Leipzig period) Ich lebe, mein Herze, zu deinem Ergötzen, BWV 145 (first performance 19 april 1729?, Leipzig period) Der Friede sei mit dir, BWV 158 (first performance 1730? - mostly lost, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/26df3dd83d99af31a1db443ce8e6986e2c61fb4a playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/1TzNvcbTWULr1oRzKZfviF playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc30-easter-tuesday/pl.bd29cee0e3134149b6b6e9a47d2b7ec5 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4281921962 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 158: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-158/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: thomaskirche-outside-blue-sky.jpg image-caption: Next to the Thomaskirche in Leipzig on a sunny spring day. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/cbc3d3a3-9f0f-4f68-825c-cd753b9fb3a1 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19438159 cantata-day-occurrences: April 2 2024, April 22 2025, April 7 2026, March 30 2027, April 18 2028, April 3 2029, April 23 2030, April 15 2031, March 30 2032, April 19 2033, April 11 2034, March 27 2035, April 15 2036, April 7 2037. cantata-day-calculation: Tuesday after Easter. Liturgical period : Easter. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Easter |
| 1208 | Quasimodogeniti | The first Sunday after Easter is sometimes called Low Sunday or the Octave Day of Easter, closing the eight days of Eastertide. In Latin it is called Quasimodogeniti, a name derived from the opening line of the scripture by Petrus: "Quasi modo geniti infantes", which means "Like new-born children". Bach created two cantatas in the Leipzig period for this day. Both cantatas are based on the reading of the day from the Gospel of John, describing the appearance of Jesus amid his disciples, and the episode with Thomas who would not believe the other disciples until Jesus appeared to him as well. Halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ, BWV 67, dates from 1724 and is part of the first Leipzig cycle. It was the first original piece that year after he created the Johannes Passion on the preceding Good Friday; on the other Easter days he reused work from Köthen and Weimar. The orchestration uses a "corno da tirarsi", which Bach uses in only three cantatas. However, no copy of such an instrument, nor a description or picture survives, so to the analogy of the known "trombo da tirarsi" hypothetical copies have been created. It is a kind of slide trumpet. Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats, BWV 42, is from one year later, 1725, and that Easter the choir and orchestra of the Thomaskirche had a lot on their plate: the second version of the Johannes Passion on Good Friday, and new cantatas (BWV 4 and 6) and the Easter Oratorio over the Easter holidays. This is maybe why this cantata opens with an orchestral suite, probably already composed in Köthen. The many surviving written original copies have many copying mistakes, which may suggest that the cantata was composed under serious time pressure. | calendar-code: WBC31 liturgical-day: Quasimodogeniti dayname-en: 1st Sunday after Easter or Quasimodogeniti playlist-name: WBC31-1st Sunday after Easter or Quasimodogeniti list-all-cantatas: Halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ, BWV 67 (first performance 16 April 1724, Leipzig period) Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats, BWV 42 (first performance 8 April 1725, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ab71aff61a337fa422a0e446955bcdb2e94825bd playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/0LUEZKXo51E5vq32BAWfpS playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc31-1st-sunday-after-easter-or-quasimodogeniti/pl.f4c587c5ac8a4e09871e94d91aac721f playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4328733142 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has pages with information and performance of BWV 42 and 67: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-42/ https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-67/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: the-incredulity-of-saint-thomas-caravaggio-1602.jpg image-caption: The incredulity of Saint Thomas by Italian painter Caravaggio from 1601-1602. Sanssouci Picture Gallery, Potsdam, Germany. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/7c222038-5cf0-4d47-8708-bbc464ce2bdf playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19438378 cantata-day-occurrences: April 7 2024, April 27 2025, April 12 2026, April 4 2027, April 23 2028, April 8 2029, April 28 2030, April 20 2031, April 4 2032, April 24 2033, April 16 2034, April 1 2035, April 20 2036, April 12 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 1st Sunday after Easter. Liturgical period : Easter. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Easter |
| 1209 | Misericordias Domini | Misericordia Domini is the 2nd Sunday after Easter. The prescribed readings include the image of the Good Shepherd from the Gospel of St John, which is why these three Leipzig cantatas all refer to the shepherd in their titles. The image of the shepherd leading his flock has been around since the Old Testament, and has remained popular in Christian arts and culture ever since. These three cantatas have a pastoral feel about them. Du Hirte Israel, höre, BWV 104, is from Bach's first year as Thomascantor, in 1724. Ich bin ein guter Hirt, BWV 85, is from one year later, but is not based on a hymn like the other choral cantatas from that cycle, because as stated before his librettist passed away earlier that year; here Bach uses an unknown poet, who, according to John Eliot Gardiner, may be the same poet who wrote the two preceding cantatas that year (Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden, BWV 6, and Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats, BWV 42). Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt, BWV 112, is from six years later, and is one of those hymn-based choral cantatas he wrote in later years to complete the 1724-1725 cycle. It is based on a hymn by Wolfgang Meuslin (1497-1563), which was still sung in Leipzig in Bach's time. | calendar-code: WBC32 liturgical-day: Misericordias Domini dayname-en: 2nd Sunday after Easter or Misericordia Domini playlist-name: WBC32-2nd Sunday after Easter or Misericordia Domini list-all-cantatas: Du Hirte Israel, höre, BWV 104 (first performance 23 April 1724, Leipzig period) Ich bin ein guter Hirt, BWV 85 (first performance 15 April 1725, Leipzig period) Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt, BWV 112 (first performance 8 April 1731, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ab71aff61a337fa422a0e446955bcdb2e94825bd playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/5TWQr2J5SJ7HEmVZftoM5m playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc32-2nd-sunday-after-easter-or-misericordia-domini/pl.09b942e1bd534dcfb0bd58a9116419f9 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4328778502 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has pages with information and performance of BWV 104: https://www.bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-104/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: good-shepherd-galla-placidia-ravenna.jpg image-caption: The good shepherd, mosaic in the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna, Italy (from around 425). google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/bb015cd8-4b02-43dd-a97c-e4ffcfb68f13 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19438431 cantata-day-occurrences: April 14 2024, May 4 2025, April 19 2026, April 11 2027, April 30 2028, April 15 2029, May 5 2030, April 27 2031, April 11 2032, May 1 2033, April 23 2034, April 8 2035, April 27 2036, April 19 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 2nd Sunday after Easter. Liturgical period : Easter. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Easter |
| 1210 | Jubilate | Jubilate is the third Sunday after Easter. Bach composed at least three cantatas for this day. The first one, Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, BWV 12, is an earlier work from the Weimar period, in fact the second cantata he composed after being promoted to Konzertmeister, which came with an obligation of a new cantata every month. The text (for all these three cantatas) is inspired by the prescribed readings of the day, the Gospel of St. John where Christ announces the second coming, with the line "your sorrow shall be turned into joy". The libretto is by Salomon Franck, the Weimar court poet who wrote most texts for Bach cantatas of the Weimar period. Bach performed this cantata as well in his first year as Thomascantor in Leipzig. Ihr werdet weinen und heulen, BWV 103, dates from his second year in Leipzig. It is the first of nine cantatas on texts by Christiana Mariana von Ziegler, which Bach composed at the end of his second annual cycle of cantatas in Leipzig. Many uncertainties surround the last cantata, Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal, BWV 146. The exact creation year is not known, 1726 or 1728. Although several names have been proposed, the author of the libretto remains a mystery too. | calendar-code: WBC33 liturgical-day: Jubilate dayname-en: 3rd Sunday after Easter or Jubilate playlist-name: WBC33-3rd Sunday after Easter or Jubilate list-all-cantatas: Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, BWV 12 (first performance 22 April 1714, Weimar period) Ihr werdet weinen und heulen, BWV 103 (first performance 22 April 1725, Leipzig period) Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal, BWV 146 (first performance ? 12 May 1726 or 18 April 1728, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/b757d9a874fb690e6ca50cc97ab06bf5b8703cd4 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/0jzXsv3JSfWFIWbCyN7hEJ playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc33-3rd-sunday-after-easter-or-jubilate/pl.41514185674e4e66b918c12f3278594d playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4328997022 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 146: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-146/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: christiana-mariana-von-ziegler.jpg image-caption: A contemporary etching of Christiana Mariana von Ziegler (1695-1760), the author of the libretto for Ihr werdet weinen und heulen, BWV 103. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/fcc8f591-3a75-4628-aeae-a8290780779c playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19459155 cantata-day-occurrences: April 21 2024, May 11 2025, April 26 2026, April 18 2027, May 7 2028, April 22 2029, May 12 2030, May 4 2031, April 18 2032, May 8 2033, April 30 2034, April 15 2035, May 4 2036, April 26 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 3rd Sunday after Easter. Liturgical period : Easter. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Easter |
| 1211 | Cantate | Cantate is the name of the 4th Sunday after Easter, named after the openingsline of the introitus psalm of the day: "Cantate Domino canticum novum" - "Sing to the Lord a new song". But it is the gospel reading of the day that was the inspiration for the two Leipzig cantatas we have: the farewell discourse given by Jesus to his disciples just after the last supper. The first cantata, Wo gehest du hin?, BWV 166, from the first cantata cycle, has an unknown poet. Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe, BWV 108, from a year later, is one of the eight cantatas written by Christiana Mariana von Ziegler (like one of the cantatas last week). | calendar-code: WBC34 liturgical-day: Cantate dayname-en: 4th Sunday after Easter or Cantate playlist-name: WBC34-4th Sunday after Easter or Cantate list-all-cantatas: Wo gehest du hin?, BWV 166 (first performance 7 May 1724, Leipzig period) Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe, BWV 108 (first performance 29 April 1725, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/1926e48d5889c14024814682a7fb9f3c92c3571e playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/1reflhlxhuDEjB2KwMV1go playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc34-4th-sunday-after-easter-or-cantate/pl.c5cd7e553516498a8344b1f797fc3330 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4386240022 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: thomanerchor-rehearsing.jpg image-caption: Students of the Thomasschüle in Leipzig studying for their performances in the Thomanerchor. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/07ef2336-7aae-4d53-b645-31c64e377757 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19471697 cantata-day-occurrences: April 28 2024, May 18 2025, May 3 2026, April 25 2027, May 14 2028, April 29 2029, May 19 2030, May 11 2031, April 25 2032, May 15 2033, May 7 2034, April 22 2035, May 11 2036, May 3 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 4th Sunday after Easter. Liturgical period : Easter. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Easter |
| 1212 | Rogate | Rogate is the 5th Sunday after Easter ("pray" in Latin). Two Leipzig cantatas on the playlist, from the first two annual cantata cycles Bach composed there, both based on the scriptures for the day covering (like the preceding Sundays) the farewell speeches given by Jesus to his disciples. The poet who wrote the text for Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage euch, BWV 86 is unknown. Bisher habt ihr nichts gebeten in meinem Namen, BWV 87, is again one of the nine cantatas written by Christiane Mariane von Ziegler. For the closing chorale, she chose a stanza of Heinrich Müller's hymn "Selig ist die Seele" (1659). You may recognise the music of that chorale, as Bach repurposed the music of his beautiful motet Jesu Meine Freude, BWV 227. | calendar-code: WBC35 liturgical-day: Rogate dayname-en: 5th Sunday after Easter or Rogate playlist-name: WBC35-5th Sunday after Easter or Rogate list-all-cantatas: Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage euch, BWV 86 (first performance 14 May 1724, Leipzig period) Bisher habt ihr nichts gebeten in meinem Namen, BWV 87 (first performance 6 May 1725, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/65d97f5369a08c89c40ac9572f8285a7a7379c55 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/13iHH9YbvVC865FGEIABdG playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc35-5th-sunday-after-easter-or-rogate/pl.ee15c6d6f0bc4c7ba1e02414794ddd23 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4386260542 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 86: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-86/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: thomaskirche-1870-alleeseite.jpg image-caption: Water colour painting of the Thomaskirche in Leipzig by Louis Braun, around 1870. Louis Braun was a German painter, mostly known for his battlescenes, especially those of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/da2a5195-9110-4d56-a0cf-a874f7eb0dc7 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19471776 cantata-day-occurrences: May 5 2024, May 25 2025, May 10 2026, May 2 2027, May 21 2028, May 6 2029, May 26 2030, May 18 2031, May 2 2032, May 22 2033, May 14 2034, April 29 2035, May 18 2036, May 10 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 5th Sunday after Easter. Liturgical period : Easter. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Easter |
| 1213 | Ascension | Ascension Day is a very important date on the liturgical calendar, so no less than 4 cantatas for this day. All date from the Leipzig period. Wer da gläubet und getauft wird, BWV 37, is based on the gospel of Mark, Jesus telling his disciples to preach and baptise, while Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein, BWV 128, truly covers the Ascension itself. It is another libretto by Christiane Mariane von Ziegler, daughter of the mayor of Leipzig, who provided him with nine poems in 1725. Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen, BWV 43, is based on a text from a set of cantatas written by Bach's far relative (their great-grandfathers were brothers), Johann Ludwig Bach (1677-1731). This text was probably written in 1704 by Ludwig's employer, Duke Ernst-Ludwig von Sachsen-Meiningen. The last one, Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen, BWV 11, is also known as the Ascension Oratorio, created in 1735, five months after the better known Christmas Oratorio and ten years after the initial Easter Oratorio. Although not longer than a regular cantata, it is structured like an oratorio, with a part for the evangelist. | calendar-code: WBC36 liturgical-day: Ascension dayname-en: Ascension Day playlist-name: WBC36-Ascension Day list-all-cantatas: Wer da gläubet und getauft wird, BWV 37 (first performance 18 May 1724, Leipzig period) Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein, BWV 128 (first performance 10 May 1725, Leipzig period) Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen, BWV 43 (first performance 30 May 1726, Leipzig period) Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen, BWV 11 (first performance 19 May 1735, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://mosaic.scdn.co/640/054b2709029538358b074e2b2ea11fb07c08861025b3955743884d6c77081703dc01edcd71252f88d3cd9c04e68f4394a19adef2c2e9915c484556f5e6ee232bdc4b7d1640d20ed0e974276e83d0dc35 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/0WbkgxVLM4XRKUjirJyRyt playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc36-ascension-day/pl.8eea131e57c24222b5f5b537fd3d0939 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4386290062 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: ascension-copley.jpg image-caption: The Ascension of Christ, 1775, by American painter John Singleton Copley (1738-1815), Boston Museum of Fine Arts. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/d5ecec3f-11ba-4d04-a416-ed80a2ddbc96 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19593732 cantata-day-occurrences: May 9 2024, May 29 2025, May 14 2026, May 6 2027, May 25 2028, May 10 2029, May 30 2030, May 22 2031, May 6 2032, May 26 2033, May 18 2034, May 3 2035, May 22 2036, May 14 2037. cantata-day-calculation: Forty days after Easter. Liturgical period : Easter. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Easter |
| 1214 | Exaudi | Exaudi is the 1st Sunday after Ascension Day or Exaudi, the first word of the Psalm for this day. Bach has two Leipzig cantatas for you, both with the same title, quoted from the scripture of John, where Jesus warns his disciples that they will be banished from the synagogue in a world that would not recognise his teachings. Apart from the title, the two cantatas have little in common, with a very different structure. BWV 183 is one of the nine cantatas with a libretto by Christiana Mariana von Ziegler. | calendar-code: WBC37 liturgical-day: Exaudi dayname-en: 1st Sunday after Ascension Day or Exaudi playlist-name: WBC37-1st Sunday after Ascension Day or Exaudi list-all-cantatas: Sie werden euch in den Bann tun, BWV 44 (first performance 21 May 1724, Leipzig period) Sie werden euch in den Bann tun, BWV 183 (first performance 13 May 1725, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/65d97f5369a08c89c40ac9572f8285a7a7379c55 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/3v4g1PXr26EIemk2uUnSBR playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc37-1st-sunday-after-ascension-day-or-exaudi/pl.835836f27dce45a79bd2757b16e3b491 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4453275902 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 44: https://www.bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-44/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: thomaskirche-leipzig-today.jpg image-caption: The Thomaskirche in Leipzig, not really in a setting that Bach would recognise. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/577bc699-735e-45c3-b9b5-2767efeacb39 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19593787 cantata-day-occurrences: May 12 2024, June 1 2025, May 17 2026, May 9 2027, May 28 2028, May 13 2029, June 2 2030, May 25 2031, May 9 2032, May 29 2033, May 21 2034, May 6 2035, May 25 2036, May 17 2037. cantata-day-calculation: Sunday after Ascension. Liturgical period : Easter. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Easter |
| 1215 | Whit Sunday | Pentecost or Whit Sunday is the 50th day after Easter and a very special liturgic holiday. So no less than 4 cantatas for this day. The first one, Erschallet, ihr Lieder, erklinget, ihr Saiten!, BWV 172, is a very festive Pentecost cantata, dating from the Weimar period. It was a cantata Bach really loved himself, as he performed it several times later as Thomaskantor in Leipzig. There is some uncertainty about the creation date of Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten, BWV 59, but it is now believed that Bach wrote it when he was still in Köthen, and performed it for the first time in the Paulinerkirche in Leipzig a week before his final move to the city, two weeks before his first Thomaskirche cantata (Die Elenden sollen essen, BWV 75). As newly appointed Thomaskantor he was also responsible for music in the university church, the Pauliner, four times a year. But he most certainly performed it again in the Thomaskirche on Pentecost the following year, 1724. The year after, 1725, he created Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten, BWV 74, a cantata with the same name and indeed an expansion and revision of BWV 59, making it more festive and indeed better suited for the imposing Thomaskirche. It is based on a libretto by Christiana Mariana von Ziegler. The last one, O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe, BWV 34, is a parody on an earlier (incomplete) wedding cantata, BWV 34a. | calendar-code: WBC38 liturgical-day: Whit Sunday dayname-en: Pentecost or Whit Sunday playlist-name: WBC38-Pentecost or Whit Sunday list-all-cantatas: Erschallet, ihr Lieder, erklinget, ihr Saiten!, BWV 172 (first performance 20 May 1714, Weimar period) Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten, BWV 59 (first performance 16 May 1723, Leipzig period) Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten, BWV 74 (first performance 20 May 1725, Leipzig period) O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe, BWV 34 (first performance 1 June 1727, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://mosaic.scdn.co/640/5fbb623aa042bd88086477842f84524e6f3f8e89679e5aa87c2fec739fc63f9db4dc5cb358abb220c6c50322b044303a2a8deeead5a8fc0b15573e80eb79956fa779fb87ff4b16707053c6ad16af8c8a playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/3iuARgFQ3dMnPGbdJXMusw playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc38-whit-sunday/pl.48b8e6dddc344e1fb85c0c3e9ff4ca7a playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4463667704 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 34: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-34/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: pentecost-el-greco-1597.jpg image-caption: Pentecost by the Greek-Spanish painter El Greco (1541-1614), Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/dbc382f0-e4d9-4bb6-a816-896281c18269 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19605746 cantata-day-occurrences: May 19 2024, June 8 2025, May 24 2026, May 16 2027, June 4 2028, May 20 2029, June 9 2030, June 1 2031, May 16 2032, June 5 2033, May 28 2034, May 13 2035, June 1 2036, May 24 2037. cantata-day-calculation: Fifty days after Easter. Liturgical period : Easter. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Easter |
| 1216 | Whit Monday | Whit Monday, the Monday after Whit Sunday, is the second day of the Pentecost celebrations. Three Leipzig cantatas for this day. The first cantata, Erhöhtes Fleisch und Blut, BWV 173, is a parody of an earlier congratulatory cantata, Durchlauchtster Leopold, BWV 173a, which he wrote in Köthen. The parody is very close to the original, a bit of an exception in Bach's work. On the original manuscript Bach even wrote the new words under the old ones, so to easily keep the structure of the score. The original version of 1724 is lost, this is the version he created in 1727. Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt, BWV 68, is from 1725, at the end of his second cantata cycle, based on a libretto by Christiane Mariane von Ziegler. The opening Sinfonia of Ich liebe den Höchsten von ganzem Gemüte, BWV 174, may sound familiar - no wonder, it reuses parts of the third Brandenburg concerto. The manuscript of this cantata is an illustration of the work pressure Bach put himself in. A copiist copied the opening bars from the Brandenburg concerto, leaving 5 bars open for new parts which Bach wrote straight into the manuscript. Another copiist notes at the end of the Alto part "Fine d. 5 Junii 1729. Lipsiae" (finished June 5th 1729 in Leipzig), so on Whit Sunday, just in time for the first performance of the work the next morning. | calendar-code: WBC39 liturgical-day: Whit Monday dayname-en: Whit Monday playlist-name: WBC39-Whit Monday list-all-cantatas: Erhöhtes Fleisch und Blut, BWV 173 (first performance 29 May 1724, Leipzig period) Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt, BWV 68 (first performance 21 May 1725, Leipzig period) Ich liebe den Höchsten von ganzem Gemüte, BWV 174 (first performance 6 June 1729, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/22da53fcb7ba0e5512d1550994770c54be0d8d59 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/0Cr4C1qUYlJ3L4cD1oLaJc playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc39-whit-monday/pl.e872d269f34c457fad35629290d5a1d4 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4467257244 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: pentecost-limbourg-brothers-1416.jpg image-caption: Pentecost, from the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, a book of hours by the Dutch painters the Limbourg brothers, left unfinished in 1416 when all three brothers and their patron, Jean, Duc de Berry, died, possibly from the plague. Musée Condé, Chantilly, France. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/733d8b9e-e45c-4b8f-92d7-c948a5a0d2e8 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19626566 cantata-day-occurrences: May 20 2024, June 9 2025, May 25 2026, May 17 2027, June 5 2028, May 21 2029, June 10 2030, June 2 2031, May 17 2032, June 6 2033, May 29 2034, May 14 2035, June 2 2036, May 25 2037. cantata-day-calculation: Monday after Whit Sunday. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1217 | Whit Tuesday | Whit Tuesday is day 3 of the Pentecost celebrations. Two cantatas for this day, both from the Leipzig period. The first cantata, Erwünschtes Freudenlicht, BWV 184, dates from 1724, one year after his start as Thomaskantor, a year in which he wrote a cantata for every liturgical day (so most Sundays) and wrote the Johannes Passion. After the Johannes he wrote 13 more cantatas up to this day, so on average a cantata every four days... No wonder that for this cantata he reuses parts of an earlier secular cantata from the Köthen period, which is unfortunately lost. BWV 184a was most likely a celebratory cantata for his employer in Köthen, Prince Leopold - it is even suggested that "Freudenlicht" has the same rhytm as "Leopold". Er rufet seinen Schafen mit Namen, BWV 175, is based on the scripture of John for that day, where Jesus is presented as a good shepherd. Pentecost in itself is not mentioned in one of the four Gospels, but in the Acts of the Apostles, so it could never be used as a scripture reading. But the shepherd calling his sheep is a clear reference to the events on Pentecost. | calendar-code: WBC40 liturgical-day: Whit Tuesday dayname-en: Whit Tuesday playlist-name: WBC40-Whit Tuesday list-all-cantatas: Erwünschtes Freudenlicht, BWV 184 (first performance 30 May 1724, Leipzig period) Er rufet seinen Schafen mit Namen, BWV 175 (first performance 22 May 1725, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/a069ef2bc34b7418e8393c1f8fb6eb3e04c97b1d playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/6APQdqYkxrA2FI5A1F5CdH playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc40-whit-tuesday/pl.091207d86ac947ec99b010abff112ff8 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4467551604 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: pentecost-giotto-1310.jpg image-caption: Pentecost by Italian painter Giotto (1267-1337), National Gallery, London. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/3e4089d8-b7cc-423c-8651-13f4fd339a47 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19626830 cantata-day-occurrences: May 21 2024, June 10 2025, May 26 2026, May 18 2027, June 6 2028, May 22 2029, June 11 2030, June 3 2031, May 18 2032, June 7 2033, May 30 2034, May 15 2035, June 3 2036, May 26 2037. cantata-day-calculation: Tuesday after Whit Sunday. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1218 | Trinitatis | Trinitatis is the first Sunday after Pentecost, and the liturgic day upon which the Holy Trinity is celebrated. It is also the first Liturgic day after the Easter period, which ends with the Pentecost celebrations. All following Sundays for the remainder of the liturgical year, up until Advent, are numbered from Trinitatis. Trinitatis was special for Bach, as he arrived in Leipzig around that date and created his first cantata on the following Sunday, which is why the three complete Leipzig cantata cycles begin and end around that liturgical day. The first cantata, O heilges Geist- und Wasserbad, BWV 165, probably dates from Weimar but it is equally likely that he performed or created this cantata at the end of his first year in Leipzig. Höchsterwünschtes Freudenfest, BWV 194, was created on November 2nd 1723 for the consecration of the church and organ in Störmthal (and I'll present you this cantata again on November 2nd), but it is certain that Bach wrote the cantata specifically for liturgical reuse, which he did the following Trinitatis in 1724. Es ist ein trotzig und verzagt Ding, BWV 176, is the last of the nine cantatas based on poems by Christiane Mariane von Ziegler (1695-1760) and dates from 1725, so at the end of his second Leipzig cycle. Bach's original intention for that second cantata cycle (1724-1725) was a complete cycle of choral cantatas, so cantatas based on chorals from the liturgical songbook. That cycle abruptly ended in March of that year, with the death of his librettist, Andreas Stübel. In later years he completed the cycle, and Gelobet sei der Herr, mein Gott, BWV 129, from 1727, is the first of those later choral cantatas. | calendar-code: WBC41 liturgical-day: Trinitatis dayname-en: First Sunday after Pentecost or Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC41-First Sunday after Pentecost or Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: O heilges Geist- und Wasserbad, BWV 165 (first performance 16 June 1715?, Weimar period) Höchsterwünschtes Freudenfest, BWV 194 (first performance 2 November 1723, Leipzig period) Es ist ein trotzig und verzagt Ding, BWV 176 (first performance 27 May 1725, Leipzig period) Gelobet sei der Herr, mein Gott, BWV 129 (first performance 8 June 1727, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/a069ef2bc34b7418e8393c1f8fb6eb3e04c97b1d playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/5U9ajvtN8djRJUP9I1WlPf playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc41-first-sunday-after-pentecost-or-trinitatis/pl.81f352411bb3401d9a79b025877391b2 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4498547266 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: rubens-trinity.jpg image-caption: The Holy Trinity by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), the most famous painter from my hometown Antwerp. Painted around 1620, it now resides in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, which reopened after extensive restorations in 2022. Definitely worth a visit! google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/54a723df-90c6-45a8-bdb9-a7e549f2efb7 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19627015 cantata-day-occurrences: May 26 2024, June 15 2025, May 31 2026, May 23 2027, June 11 2028, May 27 2029, June 16 2030, June 8 2031, May 23 2032, June 12 2033, June 4 2034, May 20 2035, June 8 2036, May 31 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 1st Sunday after Whit Sunday. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1219 | Trinitatis I | Trinitatis I is the first Sunday after Trinitatis. Bach has three cantatas for you, all from the Leipzig period. The first cantata, Die Elenden sollen essen, BWV 75, is remarkable because this is the first cantata Bach composed and performed when he took up his position as Thomaskantor in Leipzig. It was first performed in the Nikolaikirche on 30 May 1723. Because this was his first perfomance as cantor, he created a very ambitious cantata with no less than 14 movements. Because his first Leipzig cantata was on Trinitatis I, his three cycles start on that day. So one year later, on Trinitatis I 1724, Bach starts his second cantata cycle, the so called chorale cantata cycle because each cantata is based on a hymn from the Protestant liturgical tradition. Unfortunately this cycle abruptly ends in March 1725, probably because Bach's preferred poet, Andreas Stübel, passed away in January of that year. O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort, BWV 20, is a very elaborate cantata marking the start of this second cycle. It is based on a hymn by Johann Rist, which served also for the cantata O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort, BWV 60, written not long before for Trinitatis XXIV (November 1723). After Trinitatis I 1725, so at the start of his third cycle, Bach halved his tempo to a new cantata every 2 weeks, which means that Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot, BWV 39, from 1726 is indeed still part of the third cycle. | calendar-code: WBC42 liturgical-day: Trinitatis I dayname-en: Trinitatis I or 1st Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC42-Trinitatis I or 1st Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Die Elenden sollen essen, BWV 75 (first performance 30 May 1723, Leipzig period) O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort, BWV 20 (first performance 11 June 1724, Leipzig period) Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot, BWV 39 (first performance 23 June 1726, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/77fbb0bb9fa0b7be1cfa77578bca93a4bf59667a playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/15C6a1p3IrVCRLYqM6elLU playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc42-trinitatis-i-or-1st-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.318f7de1b55a44e0850a334b688cb680 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4500561446 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 75: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-75/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: thomaskirche-thomanerchor.jpg image-caption: Then and now, the Thomanerchor is instrumental in the performance of Bach cantatas in the Thomaskirche, here under direction of the previous Thomaskantor, Gotthold Schwarz. The predecessors of these choristers performed under Bach's direction as Thomaskantor. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/461070a8-2eea-436c-a176-defd7e730b91 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19628749 cantata-day-occurrences: June 2 2024, June 22 2025, June 7 2026, May 30 2027, June 18 2028, June 3 2029, June 23 2030, June 15 2031, May 30 2032, June 19 2033, June 11 2034, May 27 2035, June 15 2036, June 7 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 1st Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1220 | Nativity of Saint John the Baptist | June 24th is the feast of the nativity of Saint John the Baptist. This liturgical feast, 6 months before Christmas, was special because it was considered a preparation for the coming of Christ. Bach composed three cantatas for this occasion. Ihr Menschen, rühmet Gottes Liebe, BWV 167, dates from his first year in Leipzig, 1723, right in the beginning of his tenure as Thomas Kantor. It is a fairly short cantata compared to the others he presented that first month in Leipzig, so it's not impossible that there was a second - lost - cantata performed that day. The following year, 1724, he uses a text from Martin Luther for Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam, BWV 7, following the structure of his chorale cantata cycle he started on Trinitatis I 1724. It is based on a hymn by Martin Luther (1483-1546). Freue dich, erlöste Schar, BWV 30, is from much later, 1738, and is a very happy celebratory cantata, dating from a period in which Bach did not compose too many cantatas anymore. It also illustrates that his musical style was somewhat changing, under the influence of his sons. It is also a parody cantata, being almost entirely based on the celebratory cantata Angenehmes Wiederau, BWV 30a, which he performed on September 28 the year before. | calendar-code: WBCF0624 liturgical-day: Nativity of Saint John the Baptist dayname-en: Nativity of Saint John the Baptist playlist-name: WBCF0624-Nativity of Saint John the Baptist list-all-cantatas: Ihr Menschen, rühmet Gottes Liebe, BWV 167 (first performance 24 June 1723, Leipzig period) Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam, BWV 7 (first performance 24 June 1724, Leipzig period) Freue dich, erlöste Schar, BWV 30 (first performance 24 June 1738 or later, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/77fbb0bb9fa0b7be1cfa77578bca93a4bf59667a playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/3Amt32aSEq2AFRw5BTEFSS playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0624-nativity-of-saint-john-the-baptist/pl.97e2b9283e884015a08ab0eac49f0f7c playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4540404644 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: st-john-nativity-icon.jpg image-caption: Russian icon depicting the nativity of St John Baptist. His parents, Elisabeth and Zachariah, an elderly couple, were visited by the Archangel Gabriel to announce the birth of a son who they should name John. Zachariah did not believe the prophecy and was struck with numbness, until, on the day of the birth, he wrote "His name is John", which is depicted here. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/66513e06-8e23-4d2d-b671-8c938a3b662f playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19776857 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every June 24th. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1221 | Trinitatis II | Trinitatis II is the second Sunday after Trinitatis. Bach created two cantatas for this day in his early years in Leipzig, where he undertook the mission to write a new cantata for each liturgical holy day. The performance of Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes, BWV 76, is in this recording by John Eliot Gardiner and the English Baroque Soloists preceded by a piece by Heinrich Schütz, maybe a lesser known but very influential predecessor of Bach who he admired greatly, and rightfully so. Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein, BWV 2, the second cantata from the chorale cantata cycle, is based on one of the earliest hymns by Martin Luther, dating from 1524. | calendar-code: WBC43 liturgical-day: Trinitatis II dayname-en: Trinitatis II or 2nd Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC43-Trinitatis II or 2nd Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes, BWV 76 (first performance 6 June 1723, Leipzig period) Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein, BWV 2 (first performance 18 June 1724, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/38090fe4437d33df6bd3b142259695a53822c045 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/1pk3gRJAjHpAmaFDzymij6 playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc43-trinitatis-ii-or-2nd-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.069d76f78d354fd996601d8253a091b1 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4518946186 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: eisenach-bachhaus-opening-1907.jpg image-caption: Bach was born in Eisenach, and in the mid-19th century it was determined that this house at Frauenplan 21 was the original birthhouse of the great master. When it was threatened by demolition in 1905, the Neue Bachgesellschaft (New Bach Society), founded in Leipzig in 1900, decided to buy the house and establish a museum there. Research in 1928 showed however that members of the Bach family had indeed resided at this address, but that it was not JS Bach's birthhouse - that house was long gone. The picture shows the opening of the Bachhaus in 1907. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/43d60b2c-23d2-4c8d-ae6d-71ccf218c808 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19637166 cantata-day-occurrences: June 9 2024, June 29 2025, June 14 2026, June 6 2027, June 25 2028, June 10 2029, June 30 2030, June 22 2031, June 6 2032, June 26 2033, June 18 2034, June 3 2035, June 22 2036, June 14 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 2nd Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1222 | Trinitatis III | Trinitatis III is the third Sunday after Trinitatis. Bach wrote two cantatas for this Sunday. The first one, Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis, BWV 21, is one of Bach's most performed cantatas, and he also considered it a fine work since he performed it several times. Created originally in Weimar in 1714, it is partially based on a funeral cantata he wrote in 1713. It was performed not only on Trinitatis III, as Bach designated it as a cantata "per ogni tempore" - for various occasions. When Bach went to Hamburg in 1720 to apply for the position of organist in the Jacobikirche he also performed this cantata. Little did he know that the title ("I had a lot of sorrow") would prove visionary... Upon his return in Köthen he is told that his wife Maria Barbara passed away during his absence. Hat tip to the outstanding cantata website by Eduard Van Hengel - article in Dutch - https://www.eduardvanhengel.nl/werken/BWV_21 . Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder, BWV 135, is the last of the four cantatas with which Bach opened his second Leipzig cantata cycle, the chorale cantatas. While the first liturgical cycle in Leipzig contains cantatas Bach already composed in Weimar, this second cycle was even more ambitious: a new cantata every Sunday (and other liturgical holidays), based on a protestant hymn, here a hymn by Cyriakus Schneegaß (1597), inspired by the parable of the shepherd and the lost sheep. | calendar-code: WBC44 liturgical-day: Trinitatis III dayname-en: Trinitatis III or 3rd Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC44-Trinitatis III or 3rd Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis, BWV 21 (first performance 17 June 1714, Weimar period) Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder, BWV 135 (first performance 25 June 1724, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/88a821e847a3436fe629e09e9fcf9aed3e42bbea playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/39kfWymURT5gvhnfZoEXpv playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc44-trinitatis-iii-or-3rd-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.e73bccf442964844a5ce3fb0033dce0b playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4519240246 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 21: https://www.bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-21/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: weimar-today.jpg image-caption: View of Weimar with the Herderkirche and the Stadtschloss. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/eb5af0c2-7d9c-42a1-b8ad-82c3206b7309 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19637309 cantata-day-occurrences: June 16 2024, July 6 2025, June 21 2026, June 13 2027, July 2 2028, June 17 2029, July 7 2030, June 29 2031, June 13 2032, July 3 2033, June 25 2034, June 10 2035, June 29 2036, June 21 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 3rd Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1223 | Visitation | July 2nd is the celebration of Visitation in Bach's time (now it is celebrated mostly on May 31st, but in Germany it is still on July 2nd). Three cantatas for this day, all from Leipzig. Bach originally wrote Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147, for the fourth Sunday of Advent in Weimar. This version is know as 147a. In Leipzig however Tempus Clausum was observed during Advent, strictly limiting festivities of all kind, including music in mass. But Bach did not want to let a good cantata go to waste. With a few adaptations he transformed it into the cantata you can hear for this day, which he presented in 1723 in the Thomaskirche. The final movement of Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147, called Jesus bleibet meine Freude, has become very well known and popular thanks to the transcription for piano by the late Dame Myra Hess, known as Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (I actually played this work on the piano when I was young). I've added a version by Nelson Freire, but with a transcription by Wilhelm Kempff. Meine Seel erhebt den Herren, BWV 10, is from one year later, 1724, when Bach had just started his chorale cantata cycle. So for this cantata, he used the German translation of the Magnificat, translated by Luther himself and known as the Deutsches Magnificat. The last work, Magnificat, BWV 243, is not your average cantata, as it is the first major composition by Bach on a Latin text. Luther forbade the use of Latin in mass, with the exception of certain special days, like Visitation. Bach first created this Magnificat in E-flat major for Visitation 1723 (so on the same day as the reworked Weimar cantata BWV 147 above). He then added some movements and performed it again on Christmas of that year. This version is known as BWV 243a (and you can hear it on my Christmas playlist). For Visitation 1733 he reworked that original, with the instrumentation of some movements altered or expanded, and the key changed from E-flat major to D major, for performance reasons of the trumpet parts. This is the best known version of the Magnificat, and the one included in my playlist for this day. | calendar-code: WBCF0702 liturgical-day: Visitation dayname-en: Visitation playlist-name: WBCF0702-Visitation list-all-cantatas: Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147 (first performance 2 July 1723, Leipzig period) Meine Seel erhebt den Herren, BWV 10 (first performance 2 July 1724, Leipzig period) Magnificat, BWV 243 (first performance 2 juli 1733, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://mosaic.scdn.co/640/ab67616d0000b27335562e1c0121e1cb1386cf7dab67616d0000b2735b3082625c01f9484d43b40bab67616d0000b273dc78ee5d3e779055c7b1f23aab67616d0000b273ddbcca3123899854c9e2ab5f playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1ARkYfkAh8Mr4I92c0RqYR?si=kWAHnuZHQNWI6hq9m7ON0w playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0702-visitation/pl.u-38A1esWRDvb playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4607737324 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 10: https://www.bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-10/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: visitation-van-der-weyden-leipzig.jpg image-caption: Visitation, a painting by Rogier Van der Weyden (1399-1464), Museum der bildenden Künste in Leipzig. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/e05f14df-afe7-46a0-85b1-85e51378ec60 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19777275 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every July 2nd. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1224 | Trinitatis IV | Trinitatis IV is the 4th Sunday after Trinitatis. 3 cantatas for this day, one from Weimar and two from Leipzig. Barmherziges Herze der ewigen Liebe, BWV 185, is one of the about 20 cantatas Bach wrote in Weimar, where he was expected to write a cantata every month. The libretto is by court poet Salomon Franck like several other Weimar cantatas. It evoques the evangelical reading of the day, the Sermon on the Mount. Bach performed this cantata at least once more in Weimar, and at least twice in Leipzig, including a performance in 1723 on his first Trinitatis IV. In that initial Leipzig period Bach often performed two cantatas, one before and one after the sermon. That Sunday in 1723, BWV 185 was played after the sermon, and was preceded by Ein ungefärbt Gemüte, BWV 24, composed for the day. This is actually the first cantata Bach composed in Leipzig itself; the preceding Sundays and holy days since his appointment he performed Weimar cantatas, or in the case of BWV 75 and 76, two cantatas he already prepared in Köthen prior to his arrival in Leipzig. Finally Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 177, composed in 1732, is a choral cantata he wrote to complete his chorale cantata cycle. In 1724 Trinitatis IV coincided with Visitation, which took precedence as a celebration because of its importance. So in 1732 he filled that gap. Because he did not have an appropriate librettist in those later years, he often uses the lyrics of the chorale literally as his libretto (this is called "per-omnes-versus"). The hymn on which it is based is written in 1530 by Johann Agricola (1494-1566). | calendar-code: WBC45 liturgical-day: Trinitatis IV dayname-en: Trinitatis IV or 4th Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC45-Trinitatis IV or 4th Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Barmherziges Herze der ewigen Liebe, BWV 185 (first performance 14 July 1715, Weimar period) Ein ungefärbt Gemüte, BWV 24 (first performance 20 June 1723, Leipzig period) Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 177 (first performance 6 July 1732, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/75489e95925761ea86addd75c53d1cc2e16770f8 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/664W0kGjRGxJ59sxY655rY playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc45-trinitatis-iv-or-4th-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.4464eae2677f4a0a992b9432f72747b7 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4540396804 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 185: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-185/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: sermon-mount-jan-breughel-elder.jpg image-caption: The Sermon on the Mount, 1598, by Jan Brueghel the Elder (1568-1625), J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/13cccd6e-3f1c-46b8-b15b-dab81a5e9e2e playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19637597 cantata-day-occurrences: June 23 2024, July 13 2025, June 28 2026, June 20 2027, July 9 2028, June 24 2029, July 14 2030, July 6 2031, June 20 2032, July 10 2033, July 2 2034, June 17 2035, July 6 2036, June 28 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 4th Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1225 | Trinitatis V | Trinitatis V is the 5th Sunday after Trinitatis. Three cantatas for this day. Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten, BWV 93, is a choral cantata from the second Leipzig cycle, first performed on July 9th 1724. It is based on a hymn by Georg Neumark (1621-1681), written in 1641, in the middle of the Thirty Year's War, when he had to flee his home in Thüringen but finally found safety and employment in Kiel. Siehe, ich will viel Fischer aussenden, BWV 88, is from 1726, and is based on the evangelical reading of the day: the selection of Simon Petrus, a fisherman, as Jesus' first disciple, and the Miraculous Draught of Fish. The last one, In allen meinen Taten, BWV 97, a chorale cantata, dates from 1732 and it is uncertain for which occasion this cantata was actually written. However, on a a later manuscript Trinitatis V is noted, so reason enough to include it in the playlists. Enjoy! | calendar-code: WBC46 liturgical-day: Trinitatis V dayname-en: Trinitatis V or 5th Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC46-Trinitatis V or 5th Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten, BWV 93 (first performance 9 July 1724, Leipzig period) Siehe, ich will viel Fischer aussenden, BWV 88 (first performance 21 July 1726, Leipzig period) In allen meinen Taten, BWV 97 (first performance 25 July 1734, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/6cf445e8266a3273d632d2b33d560cd19e1165d5 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/2hzTaQQ966Fjl7qBeijzyN playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc46-trinitatis-v-or-5th-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.be5899bbdd86452e8b677456564155e8 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4607176144 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: rafael-miraculous-draught-fish.jpg image-caption: The Miraculous Draught of Fishes, a cartoon (a design for a tapestry) by Raphael (1483-1520). The cartoons were commissioned by Pope Leo X for tapestries intended for the Sistine Chapel. The cartoons are on display in the wonderful Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museum in London. Painting suggested to me by subscriber Jennifer. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/123d47af-8a11-498b-a6d9-2546a3db7ef9 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19637716 cantata-day-occurrences: June 30 2024, July 20 2025, July 5 2026, June 27 2027, July 16 2028, July 1 2029, July 21 2030, July 13 2031, June 27 2032, July 17 2033, July 9 2034, June 24 2035, July 13 2036, July 5 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 5th Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1226 | Trinitatis VI | Trinitatis VI is the 6th Sunday after Trinitatis. Two cantatas for this day, both from the Leizig period. Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust, BWV 170, is a solo cantata, which means that one singer performs all arias and recitatives. This singer was clearly someone Bach respected, and there are indications that it might have been Carl Gotthelf Gerlach (1704-1761), who had been a Thomaner under Bach's predecessor (Johann Kuhnau, 1660-1722). Es ist das Heil uns kommen her, BWV 9, is a later Leipzig cantata, written somewhere between 1732 and 1735, but intended to fill some of the gaps in his chorale cantata cycle of 1724-1725. The reason is simple: on Trinitatis VI in 1724 Bach was in Köthen with his wife Anna Magdalena, most likely for a performance for his former employer, Prins Leopold of Anhalt-Köthen. | calendar-code: WBC47 liturgical-day: Trinitatis VI dayname-en: Trinitatis VI or 6th Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC47-Trinitatis VI or 6th Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust, BWV 170 (first performance 28 July 1726, Leipzig period) Es ist das Heil uns kommen her, BWV 9 (first performance ? 1732–1735, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/a7b057ff3d3293984359b50a649dfd41f9d5a6bd playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/0kWNFQKcLHhadX4e2XmH5D playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc47-trinitatis-vi-or-6th-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.f35c64d36e044691ade790336ec26e7e playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4607778884 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 170: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-170/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: thomanerchor-thomaner-football.jpg image-caption: As a break from practicing and studying, students from the Thomasschule enjoy a game of football. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/3b198274-7b7c-4e35-8025-d66f484f287b playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19637761 cantata-day-occurrences: July 7 2024, July 27 2025, July 12 2026, July 4 2027, July 23 2028, July 8 2029, July 28 2030, July 20 2031, July 4 2032, July 24 2033, July 16 2034, July 1 2035, July 20 2036, July 12 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 6th Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1227 | Trinitatis VII | Trinitatis VII is the 7th Sunday after Trinitatis. No less than four cantatas for this day. Widerstehe doch der Sünde, BWV 54, is an early Weimar cantata and the oldest existing cantata for a solo voice. There is some discussion about when this cantata was created, but the lyrics are by Georg Christian Lehms, who wrote the texts for the 1400 (!) cantatas by Cristoph Graupner (1683-1760). I must say I was not familiar with Graupner's work, but search him out, it's worthwhile. Next up are three Leipzig cantatas from the first three complete liturgic cycles. Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht, BWV 186, is based on a an earlier Weimar Advent cantata (BWV 186a), which is lost. Leipzig observed Tempus Clausum (no music in mass) during Advent (Weimar did not), so Bach chose to expand the work and reuse it for another liturgical day. A fine cantata should never be wasted. Was willst du dich betrüben, BWV 107, is part of the chorale cantata cycle of 1724-1725. But it is a bit of an exception in its structure: almost all cantatas of that cycle leave the hymn on which it is based untouched in the first and last movement, with other arias and recitatives in between. This cantata BWV 107 however uses the "per-omnes-versus" structure: the text of the hymn remains untouched. It is an older way of doing things, and Bach did use it in early works. He also used it later on when he could not rely on a good poet for a libretto, but it remains a secret why he used it here. The hymn is based on the evangelical text of the Feeding of the Multitude with Loaves and Fishes. After his start as Thomaskantor in 1723, Bach wrote about 150 cantatas in a weekly rhytm, until the spring of 1726 when he stopped completely, and then started again but at an easier tempo. Es wartet alles auf dich, BWV 187, dates from that summer in 1726. It is part of a series of seven cantatas Bach wrote with texts that were used by his cousin Johann Ludwig Bach ten years earlier. Bach performed those cantatas by his cousin in Leipzig, but he liked the texts so much that he wanted to create his own version. | calendar-code: WBC48 liturgical-day: Trinitatis VII dayname-en: Trinitatis VII or 7th Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC48-Trinitatis VII or 7th Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Widerstehe doch der Sünde, BWV 54 (first performance 15 July 1714?, Weimar period) Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht, BWV 186 (first performance 11 July 1723, Leipzig period) Was willst du dich betrüben, BWV 107 (first performance 23 July 1724, Leipzig period) Es wartet alles auf dich, BWV 187 (first performance 4 August 1726, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://mosaic.scdn.co/640/02f2f551bc77757dc921437135fc5023078a18d050bfccaee3a1f2d2f804b45757ff948b41181d8ca2b2a312dde0bd0e1208b9666244f87e5cbf55dea7b057ff3d3293984359b50a649dfd41f9d5a6bd playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/79i2yxRkJarbtEZZq3ATJ8 playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc48-trinitatis-vii-or-7th-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.713b9f8bc1ce4b1eb6dc5563a90fb4fb playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4607876504 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 54: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-54/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: loaves-and-fishes-david-lachapelle.jpg image-caption: 'Loaves and Fishes (from Jesus is my homeboy)' is a picture from 2003 by photographer David LaChapelle (born 1963). google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/55aff797-3172-414e-b245-ed0cf7ecff58 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19651774 cantata-day-occurrences: July 14 2024, August 3 2025, July 19 2026, July 11 2027, July 30 2028, July 15 2029, August 4 2030, July 27 2031, July 11 2032, July 31 2033, July 23 2034, July 8 2035, July 27 2036, July 19 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 7th Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1228 | Trinitatis VIII | Trinitatis VIII is the 8th Sunday after Trinitatis. Three cantatas for this day. Erforsche mich, Gott, und erfahre mein Herz, BWV 136, is from the first cycle, so only a few months after Bach arrived in Leipzig. He found out that the requirement for a weekly cantata (or more often) was a serious burden for a composer, especially if the cantatas were expected to be in two parts, one part before and one after the sermon. So he created a series of slightly simpler cantatas, for which he also used older compositions as inspiration. Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält, BWV 178, is from the second cycle, so it's a chorale cantata. This cantata is based on a hymn from 1524 by Justus Jonas (1493-1555), preacher, professor and colleague reformer of Martin Luther. Es ist dir gesagt, Mensch, was gut ist, BWV 45, dates from 1726, when Bach did not write a weekly cantata anymore. Just like last Sunday, this cantata is based on a text by Duke Ernst Ludwig von Sachsen-Meiningen, who wrote a series of cantata libretto's in 1705. These texts were used previously by Bach's cousin, Johann Ludwig Bach, but he liked the texts so much he wrote 7 cantatas based on these lyrics. | calendar-code: WBC49 liturgical-day: Trinitatis VIII dayname-en: Trinitatis VIII or 8th Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC49-Trinitatis VIII or 8th Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Erforsche mich, Gott, und erfahre mein Herz, BWV 136 (first performance 18 June 1723, Leipzig period) Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält, BWV 178 (first performance 30 July 1724, Leipzig period) Es ist dir gesagt, Mensch, was gut ist, BWV 45 (first performance 11 August 1726, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67bb46a8d9ef4a587eb288a759505fc0a0ad70 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/3ox04IAq6okf2n2XR3I5T4 playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc49-trinitatis-viii-or-8th-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.fd08d0a007c54ccd9b032e2b0a44af96 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4610286284 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: bach-window-thomaskirche.jpg image-caption: The Bach glass window in the Thomaskirche in Leipzig. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/1d48f5f2-fdbf-4cc4-a00b-a77b5ca65542 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19651907 cantata-day-occurrences: July 21 2024, August 10 2025, July 26 2026, July 18 2027, August 6 2028, July 22 2029, August 11 2030, August 3 2031, July 18 2032, August 7 2033, July 30 2034, July 15 2035, August 3 2036, July 26 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 8th Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1229 | Trinitatis IX | Trinitatis IX is the 9th Sunday after Trinitatis. Three cantatas for this day, from the first, second and third annual cantata cycle Bach commenced when he was appointed as Thomaskantor in Leipzig. First up is Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht mit deinem Knecht, BWV 105, is based on the Parable of the Unjust Steward. The elaborate libretto is by an unknown poem, but he certainly inspired Bach to write one of his most complex cantatas, a true masterpiece. Was frag ich nach der Welt, BWV 94, is a chorale cantata from the second cycle, based on a hymn by Balthasar Kindermann (1636-1706). On the first Sunday after Pentecost 1725 Bach was exactly two years Thomaskantor, a period during which he wrote at least one new cantata every week. After those two years and two complete cycles, he decides to calm down a bit. The following 8 Sundays he performs cantatas by Georg Philipp Telemann. On this ninth Sunday, Trinitatis IX, he writes again an original piece: Tue Rechnung! Donnerwort, BWV 168, based on a libretto by his beloved Weimar poem, the court librarian Salomon Franck. | calendar-code: WBC50 liturgical-day: Trinitatis IX dayname-en: Trinitatis IX or 9th Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC50-Trinitatis IX or 9th Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht mit deinem Knecht, BWV 105 (first performance 25 July 1723, Leipzig period) Was frag ich nach der Welt, BWV 94 (first performance 6 August 1724, Leipzig period) Tue Rechnung! Donnerwort, BWV 168 (first performance 29 July 1725, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/09436d2a9c3c3274937f444fb6f1040a05595ea3 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/1rnP88dfHQGqfgqID1cYzV playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc50-trinitatis-ix-or-9th-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.2a4ce53f2f3f44d8942b07c1682c772e playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4610338884 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 105: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-105/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: cantata-bwv105.jpg image-caption: Autograph of a soprano aria in the cantata Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht mit deinem Knecht, BWV 105 (source: Wikipedia) google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/a6023ee4-9d6c-4890-a68a-3a591300c232 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19654995 cantata-day-occurrences: July 28 2024, August 17 2025, August 2 2026, July 25 2027, August 13 2028, July 29 2029, August 18 2030, August 10 2031, July 25 2032, August 14 2033, August 6 2034, July 22 2035, August 10 2036, August 2 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 9th Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1230 | Trinitatis X | Trinitatis X is the 10th Sunday after Trinitatis. Just like last Sunday three cantatas from the first three annual cantata cycles Bach created in Leipzig. When arriving in Leipzig in 1723, Bach first used Weimar cantatas to fulfill his weekly cantata duty. On Trinitatis IX and X he wrote 2 new cantatas on a large scale. Last Sunday you could listen to Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht mit deinem Knecht, BWV 105, and for this day there's Schauet doch und sehet, ob irgend ein Schmerz sei, BWV 46, clearly created in a similar inspirational flow. The libretto from an unknown poet is based on Jesus' prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem. Nimm von uns, Herr, du treuer Gott, BWV 101, is a chorale cantata from the second Leipzig cycle, based on a hymn with the same name from 1584 by Martin Moller. Herr, deine Augen sehen nach dem Glauben, BWV 102, is part of the series of cantatas based on lyrics by the Count of Saksen-Meiningen, which he got to know through cantatas written by his distant cousin Johann Ludwig. | calendar-code: WBC51 liturgical-day: Trinitatis X dayname-en: Trinitatis X or 10th Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC51-Trinitatis X or 10th Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Schauet doch und sehet, ob irgend ein Schmerz sei, BWV 46 (first performance 1 August 1723, Leipzig period) Nimm von uns, Herr, du treuer Gott, BWV 101 (first performance 13 August 1724, Leipzig period) Herr, deine Augen sehen nach dem Glauben, BWV 102 (first performance 25 August 1726, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/09436d2a9c3c3274937f444fb6f1040a05595ea3 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/2AwffeytUmOGuMrQIZheKq playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc51-trinitatis-x-or-10th-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.3b0374c552794e219ec9afbd3d0f9975 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4724753344 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 102: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-102/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: nikolaikirche-1592.jpg image-caption: Wood engraving of the Nikolaikirche in Leipzig, 1592. The Nikolaikirche was also under the supervision of Bach as Thomaskantor, and he performed many cantatas there too. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/60d9a713-a95d-4f70-a0f2-a81a271aa4d7 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19772891 cantata-day-occurrences: August 4 2024, August 24 2025, August 9 2026, August 1 2027, August 20 2028, August 5 2029, August 25 2030, August 17 2031, August 1 2032, August 21 2033, August 13 2034, July 29 2035, August 17 2036, August 9 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 10th Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1231 | Trinitatis XI | Trinitatis XI is the 11th Sunday after Trinitatis. We have 3 Bach cantatas for this liturgical day. Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut, BWV 199, is special in many ways. First, the original BWV catalog only ran up to 198 when the original Bachgesellschaft suspended itself in 1900. But in 1911 an original Bach manuscript of this cantata was discovered. It is an early Weimar cantata, in which Bach is experimenting with this new musical form, the cantata, which was gaining popularity over the older motet form of liturgical music. Bach performed BWV 199 again at later dates in Weimar and Köthen, illustrated by loose changes to some of the movements, as found in several manuscripts. And so he performed it also in Leipzig in 1723, after the sermon on Trinitatis XI. But the version by Christophe Coin I'm presenting to you is the original Weimar version. Before the sermon on that same day in 1723 he performed a new cantata, Siehe zu, daß deine Gottesfurcht nicht Heuchelei sei, BWV 179. Herr Jesu Christ, du höchstes Gut, BWV 113, dates from the second Leipzig cycle, and that makes it a choral cantata, based on a hymn by Bartholomäus Ringwaldt from 1588. | calendar-code: WBC52 liturgical-day: Trinitatis XI dayname-en: Trinitatis XI or 11th Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC52-Trinitatis XI or 11th Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut, BWV 199 (first performance 12 August 1714, Weimar period) Siehe zu, daß deine Gottesfurcht nicht Heuchelei sei, BWV 179 (first performance 8 August 1723, Leipzig period) Herr Jesu Christ, du höchstes Gut, BWV 113 (first performance 20 August 1724, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/dd96d9df8148daeb05e684d3f65c6ce29284e303 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/0ZapugDkReIIJMVWl1OJ0P playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc52-trinitatis-xi-or-11th-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.dc5ebbbc91ab4b3d96a68a8f399e3c26 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4724761724 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 199: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-199/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: weimar-bach-statue.jpg image-caption: A statue of Johann Sebastian Bach in Weimar. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/7eaac43e-0e0f-4bb7-92fd-4e65f75c27f3 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19772937 cantata-day-occurrences: August 11 2024, August 31 2025, August 16 2026, August 8 2027, August 27 2028, August 12 2029, September 1 2030, August 24 2031, August 8 2032, August 28 2033, August 20 2034, August 5 2035, August 24 2036, August 16 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 11th Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1232 | Trinitatis XII | Trinitatis XII is the 12th Sunday after Trinitatis. Three Leipziger cantatas for this day. The first cantata, Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele, BWV 69a, dates from his first year in Leipzig (1723). He revisited the cantata in 1727 and made some changes here and there, and then adapted and reused the cantata for the 1748 Ratswechsel, which you heard on August 26th. A nice example of how Bach very often reused material as a basis for a new creation, from a theme over a specific aria to a complete cantata. No wonder, considering the amount of work he continously created. For some unknown reason Bach didn't write a choral cantata for this day in 1724, when he was progressing in his choral cantata cycle. So in 1725 he plugged that hole and created Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren, BWV 137, a choral cantata based on a hymn by Joachim Neander (1650-1680), which he wrote in the year he succumbed from the plague. Geist und Seele wird verwirret, BWV 35, dates from one year later and is exceptional in many ways: it is the only cantata with two purely instrumental sinfonia's as openers for both parts of the cantata, and is one of the ten existing solo cantatas, so without any choir piece whatsoever. | calendar-code: WBC53 liturgical-day: Trinitatis XII dayname-en: Trinitatis XII or 12th Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC53-Trinitatis XII or 12th Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele, BWV 69a (first performance 15 August 1723, Leipzig period) Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren, BWV 137 (first performance 19 August 1725, Leipzig period) Geist und Seele wird verwirret, BWV 35 (first performance 8 September 1726, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/22556f18c51eccd568bb93c5cfb9154c982d9f70 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/47alofiDtqhyDOsCAW7wEx playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc53-trinitatis-xii-or-12th-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.3cefd25c53fa4f5c875d9b497e16ddd9 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4747218924 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and performances of BWV 35, BWV 137 and BWV 69: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-35/ https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-137/ https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-69/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: leipzig-schildbach-1765.jpg image-caption: Painting of Leipzig by Christian Schildbach (1765). google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/a8f305bd-78f0-49aa-9eb6-2a280da4e312 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19773142 cantata-day-occurrences: August 18 2024, September 7 2025, August 23 2026, August 15 2027, September 3 2028, August 19 2029, September 8 2030, August 31 2031, August 15 2032, September 4 2033, August 27 2034, August 12 2035, August 31 2036, August 23 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 12th Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1233 | Trinitatis XIII | Trinitatis XIII is the 13th Sunday after Trinitatis. Three very classic Leipzig cantatas for this day, from the three complete cycles. The evangelical reading of the day includes the parable of the Good Samaritan, which carries the commandments to love God and your neighbour, so the libretto of the cantatas are relating to it. Du sollt Gott, deinen Herren, lieben, BWV 77, is a fairly short cantata from the first cycle, 1723. Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 33, from 1724, is of course a chorale cantata, based on a hymn by Konrad Hubert (1507-1577), which only refers to the Good Samaritan indirectly. The librettist Salomon Franck (1659-1725), with whom Bach worked frequently in Weimar, was also the source for the libretto of the last cantata, Ihr, die ihr euch von Christo nennet, BWV 164. In his text he addresses the Christian audience with the clear reference from the parable, namely that they should be merciful as Christ ordered. | calendar-code: WBC54 liturgical-day: Trinitatis XIII dayname-en: Trinitatis XIII or 13th Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC54-Trinitatis XIII or 13th Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Du sollt Gott, deinen Herren, lieben, BWV 77 (first performance 22 August 1723, Leipzig period) Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 33 (first performance 3 September 1724, Leipzig period) Ihr, die ihr euch von Christo nennet, BWV 164 (first performance 26 August 1725, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/eaacba8ef7fab256cb08ca91dfcca592c0db8a82 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/24jDh31Wtn0A0cFPQDpUEp playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc54-trinitatis-xiii-or-13th-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.251336bfb61b4f748423a5c0e1779d0f playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4747231524 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: parable-good-samaritan-jordaens.jpg image-caption: The Good Samaritan, painted around 1616 by Jacob Jordaens, a painter from my hometown Antwerp (Louvre Abu Dhabi). google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/351e4338-2ac4-4ed2-83c4-80a88ce9c30e playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19773173 cantata-day-occurrences: August 25 2024, September 14 2025, August 30 2026, August 22 2027, September 10 2028, August 26 2029, September 15 2030, September 7 2031, August 22 2032, September 11 2033, September 3 2034, August 19 2035, September 7 2036, August 30 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 13th Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1234 | Trinitatis XIV | Trinitatis XIV is the 14th Sunday after Trinitatis. Three cantatas for you, from the three Leipzig cantata cycles. The prescribed reading of the day, the miraculous healing of ten lepers by Jesus, is the inspiration for Es ist nichts Gesundes an meinem Leibe, BWV 25. It is a very rich and colourful cantata, which is probably explained by the fact that the following day the orchestra and choir had to perform the 1723 Ratswechsel cantata, Preise, Jerusalem, den Herrn, BWV 119, and that they could use the practice. Jesu, der du meine Seele, BWV 78, a chorale cantata from the second cycle, is based on a hymn by Johann Rist (1607-1667), a German poet, who may also have written the base melody. In 1726 Bach was working on his third cycle but not at such a high tempo as his two previous cycles. After performing a series of cantatas by his cousing Johann Ludwig, he then creates seven cantatas based on librettos by Duke Ernst Ludwig I of Sachsen-Meiningen, who also wrote the libretti for his cousin. Wer Dank opfert, der preiset mich, BWV 17, is one of those cantatas, and focuses on a specific aspect from the reading of the day, namely that only one of the ten lepers, a Samaritan, thanked Jesus after his healing. | calendar-code: WBC55 liturgical-day: Trinitatis XIV dayname-en: Trinitatis XIV or 14th Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC55-Trinitatis XIV or 14th Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Es ist nichts Gesundes an meinem Leibe, BWV 25 (first performance 29 August 1723, Leipzig period) Jesu, der du meine Seele, BWV 78 (first performance 10 September 1724, Leipzig period) Wer Dank opfert, der preiset mich, BWV 17 (first performance 22 September 1726, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/09436d2a9c3c3274937f444fb6f1040a05595ea3 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/4BscfT6jJCras9H3WkMkTh playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc55-trinitatis-xiv-or-14th-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.3208d5f75d434fb1bfa5074701d5bffe playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4809708864 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 78: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-78/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: monastery-decani-jesus-healing-ten-lepers.jpg image-caption: Jesus healing ten lepers, the evangelical reading for Trinitatis XIV. 14th century fresco from the Serbian Orthodox monastery of Visoki Decani, located south of the city of Peć, Kosovo. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/0d289750-68f9-41b6-bd0d-78495ddb7b2e playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19773178 cantata-day-occurrences: September 1 2024, September 21 2025, September 6 2026, August 29 2027, September 17 2028, September 2 2029, September 22 2030, September 14 2031, August 29 2032, September 18 2033, September 10 2034, August 26 2035, September 14 2036, September 6 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 14th Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1235 | Trinitatis XV | Trinitatis XV is the 15th Sunday after Trinitatis. Three Leipzig cantatas for you. Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz, BWV 138, is from the first cycle, but is a bit odd because Bach uses the lyrics from a well-known Protestant chorale, so you could say this is Bach experimenting with this musical form to which he would devote a complete chorale cantata cycle one year later. Bach created three cantatas with the title Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan, based on the hymn with the same title. Only at the end of the 1950s it was determined that the three cantatas (often referred to as I, II and III) actually date from 1726, 1724 and 1734. This one, Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan II, BWV 99, is part of the chorale cantata cycle in 1724. The last cantata, Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51, is from much later, written in 1730, a time when Bach did not compose many cantatas. It is also believed that the cantata was written for another special occasion, but the first formal performance known was in Leipzig on Trinitatis XV, 1730. It is also Bach's only cantata written for solo soprano and trumpet. Considering a female soprano was highly unlikely in conservative Leipzig, the soprano was probably a young boy (possibly the later composer Christoph Nichelmann, 13 at the time). | calendar-code: WBC56 liturgical-day: Trinitatis XV dayname-en: Trinitatis XV or 15th Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC56-Trinitatis XV or 15th Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz, BWV 138 (first performance 5 September 1723, Leipzig period) Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan, BWV 99 (first performance 17 September 1724, Leipzig period) Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51 (first performance 17 September 1730, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/9ec7767a3141e0700faa8092f1f3021aaea53a3c playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/5xBSGgwNzJJk0WI0a6aavS playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc56-trinitatis-xv-or-15th-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.d1ae0c6bf1734ecd87fce71531c8b7a9 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4809716784 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and performances of BWV 51 and BWV 99: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-51/ https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-99/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: thomaskantor-andreas-reize.jpg image-caption: On Saturday September 11, 2021, the Swiss Andreas Reize took office as the new Thomaskantor, in succession of Gotthold Schwarz, who retired in June of 2021. For his inauguration concerto with the Thomaner, he performed (among others) Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan, BWV 99, the cantata for Trinitatis XV, which fell on the following Sunday September 12th. Andreas Reize is the first non-German and non-Protestant to hold the post (he is a Catholic), which apparently led to some discussion. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/8ac1e971-3913-4e4d-b44d-491e441d0b51 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19773260 cantata-day-occurrences: September 8 2024, September 28 2025, September 13 2026, September 5 2027, September 24 2028, September 9 2029, September 29 2030, September 21 2031, September 5 2032, September 25 2033, September 17 2034, September 2 2035, September 21 2036, September 13 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 15th Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1236 | Michaelis | Michaelis, Michaelistag in German, Michaelmas in English, is the holy feast of Saint Michael and the Archangels. In Bach's time this was an important holy day on the liturgical calendar, so no less than 4 cantatas on the playlist for this day, all from the Leipzig period. Well, not really 4 full cantatas, because Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft, BWV 50, is a choral movement of a lost cantata, probably written in 1723. As you may notice, all cantatas written for Michaelis are pretty imposing, with large orchestral accompaniment and strong chorus parts. There are two reasons for this: first, in Bach's time Michaelistag was a holy day on a similar level as Christmas or Easter, so festive cantatas were expected. But next to that it was also the first day of the big yearly trade fair in Leipzig, the Michaelismesse. Many visitors came to Leipzig, and it was important to make a good impression. Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft, BWV 50, is a choral movement of a presumed lost cantata, possibly written in 1723. But questions linger whether this is a work by Bach, as no authentic score exists and its first publication was only in 1860. Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir, BWV 130, is part of the chorale cantata cycle, and is based on a hymn by Paul Ebers (1554). Es erhub sich ein Streit, BWV 19, is based on a libretto by Picander, the librettist with whom Bach would co-operate intensly in later years, like for the last cantata, Man singet mit Freuden vom Sieg, BWV 149. Michaelis is my name day, so I am absolutely delighted that Bach wrote such magnificent works for me to listen to. | calendar-code: WBCF0929 liturgical-day: Michaelis dayname-en: Michaelmas (Feast of Saint Michael and the Archangels) playlist-name: WBCF0929-Michaelmas (Feast of Saint Michael and the Archangels) list-all-cantatas: Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft, BWV 50 (first performance ? 1723, Leipzig period) Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir, BWV 130 (first performance 29 September 1724, Leipzig period) Es erhub sich ein Streit, BWV 19 (first performance 29 September 1726, Leipzig period) Man singet mit Freuden vom Sieg, BWV 149 (first performance ? 29 September 1728 or 1729, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/251d32f934bcf116166531d932d31c224b746373 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/6u0Qelt32yc84hyZ6oPLWo playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0929-michaelmas-feast-saint-michael-archangels/pl.d9cced18fcf94b1b925a6edb9f43afc0 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4861491704 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and performances of BWV 130 and 50: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-130/ https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-50/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: saint-michael-archangels-tobias-botticini-1470.jpg image-caption: Painting by Francesco di Giovanni Botticini (1446-1498) of the three archangels (from left to right Michael, Raphael, Gabriel) with young Tobias (1470 - Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, Italy). google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/d161c5be-a35c-4ef6-8add-7836c15e07af playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19785454 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every September 29th. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1237 | Trinitatis XVI | Trinitatis XVI is the 16th Sunday after Trinitatis. No less than four cantatas for this day. Komm, du süße Todesstunde, BWV 161, dates from the Weimar period and the others from his first three annual cycles in Leipzig. There are two versions of the bass aria "Doch Weichet, Ihr Tollen, Vergeblichen Sorgen" of Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben?, BWV 8. The alternate version dates from 1746-1747, and has been recorded by both Ton Koopman and Masaaki Suzuki. I've added Koopman's alternate version directly after the original, performed by Philippe Herreweghe and the Collegium Vocale (on Deezer the original is performed by the Netherlands Bach Collegium with Pieter-Jan Leusink as conductor). You may recognise the opening bars of the alto aria "Willkommen! will ich sagen" in the last cantate, Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende?, BWV 27: it echoes the opening lines of Antonio Vivaldi's "Spring" of the Four Seasons, which was published the year before in 1725. Consider it a Bach hat tip to another great composer. | calendar-code: WBC57 liturgical-day: Trinitatis XVI dayname-en: Trinitatis XVI or 16th Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC57-Trinitatis XVI or 16th Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Komm, du süße Todesstunde, BWV 161 (first performance ? 27 September 1716, Weimar period) Christus, der ist mein Leben, BWV 95 (first performance 12 September 1723, Leipzig period) Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben?, BWV 8 (first performance 24 September 1724, Leipzig period) Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende?, BWV 27 (first performance 6 October 1726, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://mosaic.scdn.co/640/17f17212c58d55ad57424a72824dc8f35f28125543e339a7e1afb67734cfb0475971db8ab41226e650bfccaee3a1f2d2f804b45757ff948b41181d8ce5671b5794699e2250767581fb5a6e8e4b26bc63 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/5KTUnyJbVbk8zHeMh9i22T playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc57-trinitatis-xvi-or-16th-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.aa86c8f7634c41c88fab72e44499ad4b playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4858393264 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: antonio-vivaldi.jpg image-caption: Probable portrait of Antonio Vivaldi, around 1723. Bach rendered hommage to this great Italian composer in the opening bars of the tenor aria in the cantate, Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende?, BWV 27: it echoes the opening lines of Antonio Vivaldi's "Spring" of the Four Seasons, which was published the year before in 1725. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/4638322f-18ed-42b0-ac37-e51d890bce4a playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19774937 cantata-day-occurrences: September 15 2024, October 5 2025, September 20 2026, September 12 2027, October 1 2028, September 16 2029, October 6 2030, September 28 2031, September 12 2032, October 2 2033, September 24 2034, September 9 2035, September 28 2036, September 20 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 16th Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1238 | Trinitatis XVII | Trinitatis XVII is the 17th Sunday after Trinitatis. Three very classic Leipziger cantatas for you, from probably the first three cantata cycles. Probably, because it is disputed in which year the first cantata, Bringet dem Herrn Ehre seines Namens, BWV 148, was written. The estate of Carl Philip Emmanuel Bach had always placed it in the year 1723, but the libretto is based on a text by Picander which was published in 1725, so there is discussion if the cantata predates the text or not. The second cantata, Ach, lieben Christen, seid getrost, BWV 114, is part of the second annual cantata cycle, the so-called chorale cantata cycle, because the cantatas were based on Lutheran hymns or chorals. This cantata is based on a hymn text with the same name by Johannes Gigas (1514-1581), a German Protestant theologian, hymn writer, educator and Reformer. Finally, Wer sich selbst erhöhet, der soll erniedriget werden, BWV 47, is from the last cantata cycle, and focuses on the prescribed reading of the day, the performance of a miracle by Jesus on the Sabbat. | calendar-code: WBC58 liturgical-day: Trinitatis XVII dayname-en: Trinitatis XVII or 17th Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC58-Trinitatis XVII or 17th Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Bringet dem Herrn Ehre seines Namens, BWV 148 (first performance ?19 September 1723, Leipzig period) Ach, lieben Christen, seid getrost, BWV 114 (first performance 1 October 1724, Leipzig period) Wer sich selbst erhöhet, der soll erniedriget werden, BWV 47 (first performance 13 October 1726, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/7f829d7dc10938f4dbbca662c95cea5c193025a7 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/4HASdq6539GypMCWWLBjXd playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc58-trinitatis-xvii-or-17th-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.4d022d3179f544459d0a3e8566dd26e6 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4858419744 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: johannes-gigas.jpg image-caption: A 16th century woodcarving of Johannes Gigas (1514-1581), a German Protestant theologian, hymn writer, educator and reformer. The libretto of Ach, lieben Christen, seid getrost, BWV 114, is based on a hymn text by Gigas with the same name. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/bfea68ae-50fe-4335-a0b0-33c16466ef03 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19775346 cantata-day-occurrences: September 22 2024, October 12 2025, September 27 2026, September 19 2027, October 8 2028, September 23 2029, October 13 2030, October 5 2031, September 19 2032, October 9 2033, October 1 2034, September 16 2035, October 5 2036, September 27 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 17th Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1239 | Trinitatis XVIII | Trinitatis XVIII is the 18th Sunday after Trinitatis. Two Leipziger cantatas for this day. Herr Christ, der einge Gottessohn, BWV 96, is from the chorale cantata cycle, the second annual cycle he wrote in Leipzig. It is based on the hymn in five stanzas "Herr Christ, der einig Gotts Sohn" by Elisabeth Cruciger, published in Eyn geystlich Gesangk Buchleyn in 1524. Elisabeth Cruciger was the first female poet and hymn writer of the Protestant Reformation and a friend of Martin Luther. The cantata Gott soll allein mein Herze haben, BWV 169, is an example on how Bach reused older material he wrote even for completely different occasions: the first and fifth movements of that cantata are based on a lost concerto, possibly for oboe or flute, which he wrote during his time in Köthen (1721-1723). That same concerto is the source of Bach's Harpsichord Concerto BWV 1053, composed around 1739. According to John Eliot Gardiner, it may have also served as an organ concerto for the new Silbermann organ in Dresden's Sophienkirche in 1725. Bach used the first movement of the concerto, in da capo form, as an extended instrumental introduction, assigning the solo part to the organ, the tutti to the strings and three oboes which he added for the cantata. (source: Wikipedia). | calendar-code: WBC59 liturgical-day: Trinitatis XVIII dayname-en: Trinitatis XVIII or 18th Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC59-Trinitatis XVIII or 18th Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Herr Christ, der einge Gottessohn, BWV 96 (first performance 8 October 1724, Leipzig period) Gott soll allein mein Herze haben, BWV 169 (first performance 20 October 1726, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/7f829d7dc10938f4dbbca662c95cea5c193025a7 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/0mDtmpi7YQRg0WaMfBJeDT playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc59-trinitatis-xviii-or-18th-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.e5cfb12e672e408b858cd257c989f904 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4861453524 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: thomanerchor-singing.jpg image-caption: Young members of the Thomanerchor performing. The Thomanerchor was founded in 1212, and the Thomaskantor is its director, as was Bach from 1723 until his death in 1750. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/05e6d1c3-ed38-4ca2-90d6-39ebb001a443 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19775647 cantata-day-occurrences: September 29 2024, October 19 2025, October 4 2026, September 26 2027, October 15 2028, September 30 2029, October 20 2030, October 12 2031, September 26 2032, October 16 2033, October 8 2034, September 23 2035, October 12 2036, October 4 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 18th Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1240 | Trinitatis XIX | Trinitatis XIX is the 19th Sunday after Trinitatis. Three Leipziger cantatas for you from the first three annual cantata cycles. Ich elender Mensch, wer wird mich erlösen, BWV 48, is from the first cantata cycle and quotes from St. Paul's letter to the Christians of Rome, stressing the need of the sinner for redemption. Wo soll ich fliehen hin, BWV 5, is from his second cantata cycle, and so uses a Lutheran choral as inspiration. This choral was written in 1630, during the Thirty Years war (1618-1648), by Johann Heermann. This cantata was not written specifically for Trinitatis XIX, but was more of a cantata for both penitence and solace. On October 17th you can listen to the cantata for the funeral of Queen Christiane Eberhardine (Laß, Fürstin, laß noch einen Strahl, BWV 198). You may then recognise parts of the first movement of Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen, BWV 56, as Bach used that theme to enter a religious reference in the otherwise secular funeral cantata that he wrote a year later. | calendar-code: WBC60 liturgical-day: Trinitatis XIX dayname-en: Trinitatis XIX or 19th Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC60-Trinitatis XIX or 19th Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Ich elender Mensch, wer wird mich erlösen, BWV 48 (first performance 3 October 1723, Leipzig period) Wo soll ich fliehen hin, BWV 5 (first performance 15 October 1724, Leipzig period) Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen, BWV 56 (first performance 27 October 1726, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/aee95d438f4a152e48bf5ef7658973a975f8acaf playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/309i8aLgBoN8FR28HrcdRf playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc60-trinitatis-xix-or-19th-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.36443df85fc44676b0ccf904f362c304 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4861462964 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 56: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-56/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: cantata-bwv5.jpg image-caption: The cover page of Wo soll ich fliehen hin, BWV 5, from Bach's own manuscript, part of the Stefan Zweig collection at the British Library. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/7a7bec35-4f19-4cd9-9420-92115ddc56c4 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19775922 cantata-day-occurrences: October 6 2024, October 26 2025, October 11 2026, October 3 2027, October 22 2028, October 7 2029, October 27 2030, October 19 2031, October 3 2032, October 23 2033, October 15 2034, September 30 2035, October 19 2036, October 11 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 19th Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1241 | Trinitatis XX | Trinitatis XX is the 20th Sunday after Trinitatis. Three cantatas for this day, an earlier one from the Weimar period and two from Leipzig. Ach! ich sehe, itzt, da ich zur Hochzeit gehe, BWV 162, was composed by Bach in Weimar, where he created a new cantata every month. It was first performed in the Schlosskirche in Weimar in 1715 or 1716, the date is not certain. We do know that he performed the cantata again in Leipzig, and even added a corno da tirarsi (a pullhorn). The chorale cantata Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, BWV 180, is based upon Johann Franck's (1618-1677) hymn with the same name, with a melody by Johann Crüger. It matches the Sunday's prescribed reading, the Parable of the Great Banquet from the Gospel of Matthew. Ich geh und suche mit Verlangen, BWV 49, from the third cantata cycle, features a dialog between bass and soprano, also the only soloists in this cantata. | calendar-code: WBC61 liturgical-day: Trinitatis XX dayname-en: Trinitatis XX or 20th Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC61-Trinitatis XX or 20th Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Ach! ich sehe, itzt, da ich zur Hochzeit gehe, BWV 162 (first performance ? 3 November 1715 or 25 October 1716, Weimar period) Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, BWV 180 (first performance 22 October 1724, Leipzig period) Ich geh und suche mit Verlangen, BWV 49 (first performance 3 November 1726, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/bc46cc39c8e5846b63566a81785be4ac67a8ae52 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/3mD7d4Xt3CksQMrA0SwPRu playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc61-trinitatis-xx-or-20th-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.287db8ef7c324ba2bec53fc2af78ce11 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4861481064 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: weimar-schloss-1730.jpg image-caption: A view of Schloss Weimar around 1730. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/9a3b8332-a8d4-4398-97dc-ff1b465ffa15 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19776155 cantata-day-occurrences: October 13 2024, November 2 2025, October 18 2026, October 10 2027, October 29 2028, October 14 2029, November 3 2030, October 26 2031, October 10 2032, October 30 2033, October 22 2034, October 7 2035, October 26 2036, October 18 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 20th Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1242 | Reformation day | October 31st is Reformation Day, to commemorate that on this day in 1517 Martin Luther allegedly (it is disputed) nailed his 95 theses against indulgences on the church door of the Schlosskirche in Wittenberg, thereby sparking the protestant reformation. It is understandbly a major protestant and calvinist holiday. Reformation Day was of course celebrated in Leipzig, so Bach created three very fine cantatas for that day. Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild, BWV 79, written in 1725, was the first cantata he wrote for this day. Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott, BWV 80, is reworked from a lost Weimar cantata, Alles, was von Gott geboren, BWV 80a. Gelobet sei der Herr, mein Gott, BWV 129, was originally written for Trinity Sunday (first performed June 8th 1727) but most likely also performed on Reformation Day on a later occasion - the lyrics were considered to be suited for that day too. | calendar-code: WBCF1031 liturgical-day: Reformation day dayname-en: Reformation day playlist-name: WBCF1031-Reformation day list-all-cantatas: Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild, BWV 79 (first performance 31 October 1725, Leipzig period) Gelobet sei der Herr, mein Gott, BWV 129 (first performance 16 June 1726?, Leipzig period) Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott, BWV 80 (first performance ? 1727–31, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/cec690684720bed1f1a70d7c66da2eb2380ff897 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/0mz4mnOqywdhcF5Rji19hw playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf1031-reformation-day/pl.u-d2J7YtRNzlb playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4981478924 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: eisenach-georgenkirche-portalinschrift.jpg image-caption: The inscription on the portal of the Georgenkirche in Eisenach: "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott", the title of BWV 80. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/47f89363-ccc0-4ad4-b07f-0a3fa0b89ce7 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19785819 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every October 31st. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1243 | Trinitatis XXI | Trinitatis XXI is the 21st Sunday after Trinitatis, and we have no less than 4 Leipzig cantatas for this day. The first three (BWV 109, BWV 38, BWV98) are from the first three annual cantata cycles. The second cantata, Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir, BWV 38, is from the chorale cantata cycle, and is based on a penitential hymn by Martin Luther with the same name. The fourth one, Ich habe meine Zuversicht, BWV 188, is from somewhat later and what we now have is a careful reconstruction because the original autographed score was cut up in pieces and sold to private individuals somewhere in the nineteenth century. This cantata is also one of only ten cantatas we know of from a complete cycle of cantata libretti written by Christian Friedrich Henrici (1700-1764), writing under the pen name Picander. In the prologue of that bundle he writes that these texts will be put to music by the "incomparable Kapelmeister", meaning Bach. This means that there might have been a fourth complete cantata cycle, of which around 50 of 60 possible cantatas would be lost. | calendar-code: WBC62 liturgical-day: Trinitatis XXI dayname-en: Trinitatis XXI or 21st Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC62-Trinitatis XXI or 21st Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Ich glaube, lieber Herr, hilf meinem Unglauben, BWV 109 (first performance 17 October 1723, Leipzig period) Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir, BWV 38 (first performance 29 October 1724, Leipzig period) Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan, BWV 98 (first performance 10 November 1726, Leipzig period) Ich habe meine Zuversicht, BWV 188 (first performance ?17 October 1728, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://mosaic.scdn.co/640/3e7426f7a114f12380691225c56491048d2d2a4eaee95d438f4a152e48bf5ef7658973a975f8acaff4652eb79da0ec79010e647b1b82462fa7628165fda978f32a99a83f6e2fc2bf410a05542050d6f1 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/3ARkmZAc7lupoxOfgG5YqQ playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc62-trinitatis-xxi-or-21st-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.cbe91ace44274bd380593f67c9d9ef23 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4981455924 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: nikolaikirche-2018-bachfest.jpg image-caption: A musical performance at the Nikolaikirche in Leipzig during the Bachfest, held annually in the month of July. Each year there are approximately 100 individual events during the Bach Festival, beginning with an opening concert conducted by the serving Thomaskantor. The final concert is traditionally a performance of Bach's Mass in B minor (BWV 232) in the St. Thomas Church (source: Wikipedia). google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/2e5cd7e1-31e8-499a-bc22-6cd199b991d9 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19776362 cantata-day-occurrences: October 20 2024, November 9 2025, October 25 2026, October 17 2027, November 5 2028, October 21 2029, November 10 2030, November 2 2031, October 17 2032, November 6 2033, October 29 2034, October 14 2035, November 2 2036, October 25 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 21st Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1244 | Trinitatis XXII | Trinitatis XXII is the 22nd Sunday after Trinitas. Three Leipzig cantatas for this day, from the first three annual cantata cycles Bach wrote in that city. First up, from the fall of 1723, Bach's first Leipzig year, is Was soll ich aus dir machen, Ephraim, BWV 89. As a theme it uses the parable of the Ungrateful Servant. It is a solo cantata, where the four soloists also cover the choral parts. We are getting close to the end of the liturgical year, and in the scriptures the theme of the pending Last Judgment begin to play a part. Mache dich, mein Geist, bereit, BWV 115, a chorale cantata from 1724 based on a hymn by Johann Burchard from 1697 encourages the faithful to be prepared at any moment in a religious sense. The third cantata, Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht, BWV 55 (1726), is Bach's only extant cantata for tenor. | calendar-code: WBC63 liturgical-day: Trinitatis XXII dayname-en: Trinitatis XXII or 22nd Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC63-Trinitatis XXII or 22nd Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Was soll ich aus dir machen, Ephraim, BWV 89 (first performance 24 October 1723, Leipzig period) Mache dich, mein Geist, bereit, BWV 115 (first performance 5 November 1724, Leipzig period) Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht, BWV 55 (first performance 17 November 1726, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/d1b5bf8d9739348e4f871af1117434fd8d89e148 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/43ZHniA5OGTQsKFkV5uPl9 playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc63-trinitatis-xxii-or-22nd-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.b7a8264cf1f740138e55c01e763daee9 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4981467604 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 55: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-55/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: leipzig-neuebachgesellschaft-bacharchiv-bosehaus.jpg image-caption: A view of the Bosehaus in Leipzig, residence of the Neue Bach Gesellschaft and the Bach Archiv Leipzig. The building itself was known to Bach. The Bosehaus was restored from 2008 to 2010 to comply with the latest safety requirements for archives, and was opened again on 20 March 2010. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/6c429cba-63fb-4576-b19c-45aa2cd5766e playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19784921 cantata-day-occurrences: October 27 2024, November 16 2025, November 1 2026, October 24 2027, November 12 2028, October 28 2029, November 17 2030, November 9 2031, October 24 2032, November 13 2033, November 5 2034, October 21 2035, November 9 2036, November 1 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 22nd Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1245 | Trinitatis XXIII | Trinitatis XXIII is the 23rd Sunday after Trinitas. Three cantatas for this day, one from the Weimar period, and two from Leipzig. The first cantata, Nur jedem das Seine, BWV 163, is based on the gospel of the day (Matthew 22:21), where Jesus answers the trick question by the Pharisees: "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's". What many do not realise is that Bach created those cantatas at a certain moment, but that he performed them repeatedly in later years. The only problem is that we do not have his complete performance schedule. But of the second cantata, Wohl dem, der sich auf seinen Gott, BWV 139, which was created in 1724 (so in his second Leipzig annual cantata cycle), we know that Bach performed it again between 1732 and 1735, and again between 1744 and 1747. Considering the enormous amount of cantatas he wrote, he had a great body of work to perform time and time again. Falsche Welt, dir trau ich nicht, BWV 52, is a solo soprano cantata from 1726, with a libretto by Christoph Birkmann which focuses on the sneakiness of the Pharisees in the lecture. | calendar-code: WBC64 liturgical-day: Trinitatis XXIII dayname-en: Trinitatis XXIII or 23rd Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC64-Trinitatis XXIII or 23rd Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Nur jedem das Seine, BWV 163 (first performance 24 November 1715, Weimar period) Wohl dem, der sich auf seinen Gott, BWV 139 (first performance 12 November 1724, Leipzig period) Falsche Welt, dir trau ich nicht, BWV 52 (first performance 24 November 1726, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/611d79bd8e497e95e3313e290f7872dbe66aa780 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/3ub2HG65ok2beMOQO7Ku99 playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc64-trinitatis-xxiii-or-23rd-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.f65ca06705414c569d716769666afba4 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/5044754264 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: weimar-schlosskirche-1660.jpg image-caption: View of the Schlosskirche in Weimar, where Nur jedem das Seine, BWV 163 was first performed on 24 November 1715. This Schlosskirche, as it appeared in Bach's time, was built between 1619 and 1630, but destroyed by fire in 1774. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/50347169-e52e-4688-b737-a623246ba52e playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/17868223 cantata-day-occurrences: November 3 2024, November 23 2025, November 8 2026, October 31 2027, November 19 2028, November 4 2029, November 24 2030, November 16 2031, October 31 2032, November 20 2033, November 12 2034, October 28 2035, November 16 2036, November 8 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 23rd Sunday after Trinitatis. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1246 | Trinitatis XXIV | Trinitatis XXIV is the 24th Sunday after Trinitas, and occurs only if it falls before Advent I. Two Leipziger cantatas for this day, from the first two cantata cycles. There are two cantatas with the title O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort. This one, BWV 60, was written in 1723 as part of the first cantata cycle; the second one, BWV 20, was written 7 months later for Trinitatis I as part of the chorale cantata cycle. Because indeed the same hymn by Johann von Rist (1607-1667) serves as inspiration for Bach. In this cantata only the first part is based on the hymn; BWV 20 is a chorale cantata so there the hymn plays a more important role. The readings of the last Trinitatis Sundays all cover the end of time, leading to the Last Judgment, or have readings that symbolise the resurrection. Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig, BWV 26, a hymn by Michael Franck (1609-1667), also evokes the fleeting nature of life. | calendar-code: WBC65 liturgical-day: Trinitatis XXIV dayname-en: Trinitatis XXIV or 24th Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC65-Trinitatis XXIV or 24th Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort, BWV 60 (first performance 7 November 1723, Leipzig period) Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig, BWV 26 (first performance 19 November 1724, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/d1b5bf8d9739348e4f871af1117434fd8d89e148 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/4kTfUz9NP2q9Px6UVDfU8p playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc65-trinitatis-xxiv-or-24th-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.7de6ae49e08c41ebbb3f8ea78927084a playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/5044771884 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: thomaskirche-watercolourpainting.jpg image-caption: The Thomaskirche in Leipzig, water colour painting by Christian Gödert, a German artist born 1961. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/13259960-d50a-49bd-ab31-1d70fc1487d4 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/17868345 cantata-day-occurrences: November 10 2024, November 15 2026, November 7 2027, November 26 2028, November 11 2029, November 23 2031, November 7 2032, November 19 2034, November 4 2035, November 23 2036, November 15 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 24th Sunday after Trinitatis. Only occurs if it falls before Advent I. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1247 | Trinitatis XXV | Trinitatis XXV is the 25th Sunday after Trinitas. Two Leipzig cantatas for you, from Bach's first two cantata cycles there (1723 and 1724). Es reißet euch ein schrecklich Ende, BWV 90, from 1723, is one of the most dramatic cantatas written by Bach, which has to do with the subject of the prescribed readings of the day: the Great Tribulation, which will ultimately lead to the Last Judgment. From the chorale cantata cycle comes Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 116, based on a hymn by Jakob Ebert (1549-1614). There is no cantata for Trinitatis XXV in his third cycle of 1725, simply because Easter fell late that year on April 16th, which means that there was no Trinitatis XXV in 1725 - Advent started after Trinitatis XXIV. In fact, the same thing recently in 2019. | calendar-code: WBC66 liturgical-day: Trinitatis XXV dayname-en: Trinitatis XXV or 25th Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC66-Trinitatis XXV or 25th Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Es reißet euch ein schrecklich Ende, BWV 90 (first performance 14 November 1723, Leipzig period) Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 116 (first performance 26 November 1724, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/0154246a2ffedfcb045d95160d7be2d7d5427a70 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/59vsMThJTtcoA7ggg7Nr8m playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc66-trinitatis-xxv-or-25th-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.25755f7739de441ea5b583d56ed145a8 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/5048822204 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: rogier-van-der-weyden-last-judgment.jpg image-caption: The Last Judgment, subject of the prescribed readings of Trinitatis XXV, as depicted so magnificently around 1445-1450 by Rogier Van der Weyden (1399 or 1400-1464). Commissioned by Nicolas Rolin, chancellor of the Duke of Burgundy, for the Hospices de Beaune (which he founded), and where it still hangs today. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/82384d32-c3ba-481a-a155-209ac840c680 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/17868672 cantata-day-occurrences: November 17 2024, November 22 2026, November 14 2027, November 18 2029, November 14 2032, November 26 2034, November 11 2035, November 22 2037. cantata-day-calculation: 25th Sunday after Trinitatis. Only occurs if it falls before Advent I. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1248 | Trinitatis XXVI | Trinitatis XXVI is the 26th Sunday after Trinitas. One Leipzig cantata for this day: Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!, BWV 70, already announcing the coming of Advent, next Sunday. Indeed, this is the last Sunday of this liturgical year, next Sunday the new liturgical year begins with Advent I, the 4th Sunday before Christmas. Bach wrote this cantata in Weimar as a cantata for Advent II, on a libretto by his favourite Salomon Franck. Because during Advent Leipzig held Tempus Clausum (which meant no music in mass) he could not perform the cantata on that day, so he repurposed it for Trinitatis XXVI, because the readings of that day had a similar theme. | calendar-code: WBC67 liturgical-day: Trinitatis XXVI dayname-en: Trinitatis XXVI or 26th Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC67-Trinitatis XXVI or 26th Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!, BWV 70 (first performance 21 November 1723, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ff478b3b9216d36c1d1d2b5481fc6e218dfa8cdf playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/180A2JqvGnQNGeZKeD2j71 playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc67-trinitatis-xxvi-or-26th-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.8e0a42315cd341f7ae42cced2abf79fa playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/5060116024 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: weimar-stadtschloss-aerial-view.jpg image-caption: An aerial view of the Stadtschloss in Weimar, with on the right the Schlosskirche (Court Chapel), where Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!, BWV 70, was first performed. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/345b582f-7574-4dca-bb00-6587c014a5fb playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19776713 cantata-day-occurrences: November 24 2024, November 21 2027, November 25 2029, November 21 2032, November 18 2035. cantata-day-calculation: 26th Sunday after Trinitatis. Only occurs if it falls before Advent I. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1249 | Trinitatis XXVII | Trinitatis XXVII is the 27th Sunday after Trinitatis. As you know Trinitatis XXIV and later only occur if they fall before Advent I, which becomes increasingly less likely the higher the Trinitatis number. In fact, XXVII occurs so rarely (only in 7% of years) that Bach must have looked surprised when he was informed of the liturgical calendar of 1731, and saw that there was a liturgical day for which he had never written a cantata. That is why the creation date of this cantata is 1731, much later than his major cantata production years in Leipzig (1723 to 1727) or Weimar ten years before that. He wrote the cantata already in 1729 but the first performance was on Trinitatis XXVII 1731. The readings of the day covers the parable of the ten bridesmaids, a call to be ready for judgment day. But Bach uses a chorale written by Philipp Nicolai, the preacher who also wrote Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern when pestilence was wrecking his town and he had to find the courage to bury the dead each day. Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140, has become one of Bach's most popular and most performed cantatas, and especially the chorus Zion hört die Wächter singen, which also became so famous thanks to Bach's own transcription for Organ, BWV 645, the first of the six Schübler Chorales, one of Bach's best known and most loved organ works. | calendar-code: WBC68 liturgical-day: Trinitatis XXVII dayname-en: Trinitatis XXVII or 27th Sunday after Trinitatis playlist-name: WBC68-Trinitatis XXVII or 27th Sunday after Trinitatis list-all-cantatas: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140 (first performance 25 November 1731, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/d1b5bf8d9739348e4f871af1117434fd8d89e148 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/0pUSNdOjxepTMmuHHYE2La playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc68-trinitatis-xxvii-or-27th-sunday-after-trinitatis/pl.1bb7bd23f8694861aaf092d2c8592edc playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/5060123424 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 140: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-140/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: parable-of-the-ten-virgins-blake.jpg image-caption: The parable of the ten bridesmaids. It was long thought that this watercolour painting was by William Blake, but it finally turned out to be a copy of a Blake original, painted for Sir Thomas Lawrence in about 1825. Tate gallery, London. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/34b27ca0-c0fd-4685-bf6f-e438ce538246 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19776780 cantata-day-occurrences: November 25 2035. cantata-day-calculation: 27th Sunday after Trinitatis. Only occurs if it falls before Advent I. Liturgical period : Ordinary time II. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time II |
| 1250 | Inauguration of Mühlhausen town council | From 1707 to 1708, Bach was appointed as organist in the church of Holy Blasius (Divi Blasii) in Mühlhausen. One of the obligations of this function was to write music for the yearly recurring installation of the new town council (something he would do repeatedly later on in Leipzig with his Ratwechsel cantatas). The cantata Gott ist mein König, BWV 71, was performed in the larger Marienkirche in Mühlhausen on February 4th, 1708, under the direction of the 22 year old Bach. The cantata pleased the town council so much, that they had the score printed, and as such it was the only cantata ever published during Bach's lifetime. It is one of Bach's earliest cantatas. In 1709 Bach wrote another Ratwechsel cantata for the Mühlhausen town council, although he had already left for Weimar. Unfortunately this cantata is completely lost. | calendar-code: WBCF0204 liturgical-day: Inauguration of Mühlhausen town council dayname-en: Inauguration of Mühlhausen town council playlist-name: WBCF0204-Inauguration of Mühlhausen town council list-all-cantatas: Gott ist mein König, BWV 71 (first performance 4 February 1708, Mühlhausen period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/a074613bd9afc72c52dc83f1c1fbb6bc003c3c8b playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/3E93UZgusfUmnKewUWWsLy playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0204-inauguration-muhlhausen/pl.95fa7ac00df1452fbb7a99e2646f5213 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4074602702 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: muhlhausen-divi-blasii.jpg image-caption: The Divi Blasii church in Mühlhausen, where Bach was appointed as organist from 1707 to 1708. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/fff3fd68-d5ee-49ef-9815-269cbec8a623 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/18711204 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every February 4th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1251 | Epiphany V | Epiphany V is the fifth Sunday after Epiphany. This day only occurs in years with a really late Easter. The latest possible date for Easter is April 25th (you'll have to wait until 2038 to see that happen), and in order to have Epiphany V Easter needs to fall typically April 16 or later. So Epiphany V does not occur regularly. It did occur however in 1726, the year of Bach's third annual cycle in Leipzig. However, for reasons unknown, he chose not to write a cantata himself, but to stage a cantata by his cousin, Johann Ludwig Bach, called Der Gottlosen Arbeit (JLB 2). Unfortunately there are no recordings of this cantata currently available on the online music streaming services. In 1729 Epiphany V occured again, but the libretto Picander wrote for this occasion called Erwache, du verschlaffnes Herze, has no known Bach cantata. So I've taken the liberty to choose a completely different cantata, of which it is not know for what occasion it was written. You'll probably recognise the music of Tilge, Höchster, meine Sünden, BWV 1083, as it is a musical parody of the very famous Stabat Mater by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736), written in the last weeks of his life before succumbing to tuberculosis aged only 26. Bach used a German paraphrase of Psalm 51 as the text for this cantata, and performed it in Leipzig somewhere between 1745 and 1747, making it the first demonstrable performance of Pergolesi's music in Germany. Stabat Mater itself was only printed for the first time in 1748. Next to that, I've added three other cantatas by Johann Ludwig Bach, all of which where staged by JS Bach in that year 1726. It gives us the opportunity to appreciate the quality of these works. In fact, the quality of Johann Ludwig's cantatas is good enough that Denn du wirst meine Seele nicht in der Hölle lassen, BWV 15 was originally attributed to JS Bach, but scholars now agree it is actually a Johann Ludwig cantata. So it now has received the notation Anh III 157, part of a list of works which are probably not by JS Bach, and as well JLB 21, so it has been added to the catalog of works by Johann Ludwig. And all this actually means that all of the music for this day is... Not really by Johann Sebastian Bach. But I am sure you will enjoy it! | calendar-code: WBC16 liturgical-day: Epiphany V dayname-en: Epiphany V playlist-name: WBC16-Epiphany V list-all-cantatas: Der Herr wird ein Neues im Lande, JLB 13 (first performance 2 July 1726, Leipzig period) Die Weisheit kömmt nicht, JLB 14 (first performance 19 May 1726, Leipzig period) Ich will meinen Geist, JLB 7 (first performance 28 July 1726, Leipzig period) Tilge, Höchster, meine Sünden, BWV 1083 (first performance ? 1745–1747, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/22cd72232df780a8a56629e02189a7ec02a746d4 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/6RdDge7hwQTVI6UZMRXNeC playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc16-epiphany-v/pl.be542fcb97ec47d7ae2f24a5a540ccf4 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/5390881482 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: johann-ludwig-bach.jpg image-caption: Johann Ludwig Bach (1677-1731), third cousin of Johann Sebastian. During his tenure as Thomaskantor in Leipzig, JS Bach performed several of Johann Ludwig's cantatas. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/76a9966f-7935-4150-a6f6-63fe9f92d75e playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19774842 cantata-day-occurrences: February 9 2025, February 6 2028, February 10 2030, February 6 2033. cantata-day-calculation: The 5th Sunday after Epiphany (January 6th), but only if it occurs before Septuagesima, the 70th day before Easter. Liturgical period : Ordinary time I. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Ordinary time I |
| 1252 | Funeral of Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Köthen | On this day (and the day before) in 1729 Prince Leopold from Anhalt-Köthen was buried. Although Bach lived in Leipzig at the time, he worked at the Prince's court between 1717 and 1723, and retained the title of court composer. So when the Prince passed away, it was fitting that Bach would write a funeral cantata, now known as the Köthener Trauermusik. Sadly the music of the cantata was lost, but extensive studies by different musical scholars show that he reused music from the Matthaeus Passion and from funeral music for the Electress of Saxony (BWV 198, Laß, Fürstin, laß noch einen Strahl), both written in 1727. Bach often reused earlier compositions. That technique is called parody in classical music. You will no doubt recognise many parts especially of the Matthaeus Passion. Andrew Parrot and his Taverner Consort and Players made an elaborate study and reconstruction of this funeral cantata, so I used his 2010 recording for the playlist. | calendar-code: WBCF0324 liturgical-day: Funeral of Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Köthen dayname-en: Funeral of Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Köthen playlist-name: WBCF0324-Funeral of Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Köthen list-all-cantatas: Klagt, Kinder, klagt es aller Welt, BWV 244a (first performance 24 March 1729, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/19fd9e63a0be21ededbcc93440d299c619dbcb09 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/7LzAszR0Nugip90wkBooki playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0324-funeral-of-prince-leopold-of-anhalt-k%C3%B6then/pl.afe77c3c52c8469c836202ccb736ff79 playlist-deezer: http://www.deezer.com/playlist/4270273202 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: koethen-schlosspark-merian-1650.jpg image-caption: Schlossanlage Köthen, home of the princes of Köthen, around 1650 in a copper etching by Caspar Merians (Bach-Archiv Leipzig). google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/393655c9-1b42-4a6c-ba7b-9b1ba30159ab playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19433253 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every March 24th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1253 | Bach's birthday, Julian calendar | March 21st is Bach's birthday, and yet it isn't. It would be if we were still using the Julian calendar, which of course we're not anymore - we use the Gregorian calendar, which makes that March 31st is his real birthday in our time. But in Bach's time the Gregorian calendar was not yet used everywhere in Germany, as you can see on the commemorative plaque in the picture, which hangs in Bach's birthtown of Eisenach. I've chosen several cantatas for which the occasion and first performance are unknown. First up is Amore traditore, BWV 203, the first of only two cantatas with an Italian libretto, written at some point while in Köthen. The comes Ich bin in mir vergnügt, BWV 204, a wordly cantata written in 1726-1727. It may have been a repertory piece that he performed on multiple occasions, or at a Café Zimmermann concert. Next is one of his very well known secular cantatas, the Coffee Cantata. Bach composed this cantata between 1732 and 1735 for performance by the Collegium Musicum in the Café Zimmermann, extolling the virtues of that magical drink but also its addictive dangers - coffee addiction was considered dangerous in the 18th century. Finally Non sa che sia dolore, BWV 209, the other 'Italian' cantata from much later, around 1734 and possibly only first performed in 1747. It may relate to Leipziger scholars who are leaving the city to return to Ansbach, but there's much speculation. | calendar-code: WBCF0321 liturgical-day: Bach's birthday, Julian calendar dayname-en: Bach's birthday Julian calendar playlist-name: WBCF0321-Bach's birthday Julian calendar list-all-cantatas: Amore traditore, BWV 203 (first performance 1720?, Köthen period) Ich bin in mir vergnügt, BWV 204 (first performance 1726?, Leipzig period) Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht, BWV 211 (first performance ? 1732-1735, Leipzig period) Non sa che sia dolore, BWV 209 (first performance 1734?, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://mosaic.scdn.co/640/ab67616d0000b2730318059545977c0839d37990ab67616d0000b2739a91dae2cfff890e9a98b4ebab67616d0000b273aeae6758b7cc527c2d5dd80dab67616d0000b273ef02b476765bb92c2a5e9b0d playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4CzSOEML41EOEznsvpZFJc?si=estPW28AQpCYt9i9lxRwRA playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0321-bachs-birthday-julian-calendar/pl.6d75a6d18ac94ddd8792e4a002d6cc71 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/5461563142 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 203 and BWV 211: https://www.bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-203/ https://www.bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-211/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: eisenach-georgenkirche-gedenktafel.jpg image-caption: A wooden memorial plate above the entrance portal of the Georgenkirche in Eisenach, commemorating Bach's baptism according to the Julian calendar. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/a44e295f-2b26-4689-a36b-e493468586a4 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19424078 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every March 21st. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1254 | Bach's birthday, Gregorian calendar | March 31st is Johann Sebastian Bach's birthday according to the Gregorian calendar, so again I've selected some cantatas of which their occasion or first performance date is not known. The first cantata is most likely a celebratory birthday cantata, so that's very appropriate. First performed in 1725, and possibly 6 years later again for the birthday of his friend and university professor Johann Matthias Gesner, it is also the basis for the liturgical cantata with the same name Schwingt freudig euch empor, BWV 36, written for the first Sunday in Advent. Next up, Erwählte Pleißenstadt, BWV 216a, is a reconstructed cantata (performed here by Alexander Grychtolik), a celebratory cantata most likely for the town council of his beloved Leipzig. Herr Gott, Beherrscher aller Dinge, BWV 120a, is a marriage cantata, with a parody relation to Gott, man lobet dich in der Stille, BWV 120, but it is not known which work influenced which. It also borrows from the 3rd Violin Partita, BWV 1006, and an earlier cantata, Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren, BWV 137. This allowed the reconstruction to be made, performed here by Ton Koopman and the Amsterdam Baroque. Lastly, Gott ist unsre Zuversicht, BWV 197, is a marriage cantata (not known for which lucky couple), and is a rework of his (partially lost) Christmas cantata, Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe, BWV 197a. Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Herr Bach! | calendar-code: WBCF0331 liturgical-day: Bach's birthday, Gregorian calendar dayname-en: Bach's birthday Gregorian calendar playlist-name: WBCF0331-Bach's birthday Gregorian calendar list-all-cantatas: Schwingt freudig euch empor, BWV 36c (first performance ? May-June 1725, Leipzig period) Erwählte Pleißenstadt, BWV 216a (first performance ? 1728, Leipzig period) Herr Gott, Beherrscher aller Dinge, BWV 120a (first performance ? 1729, Leipzig period) Gott ist unsre Zuversicht, BWV 197 (first performance ? 1736/37, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://mosaic.scdn.co/640/ab67616d0000b2732470ac0ad88bcb5bd7a3882aab67616d0000b273650973d216abec8bab715572ab67616d0000b2737e3272766f02a7203eaf41dbab67616d0000b273ab4e7d0cb86e6d358f037225 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5Shzm0fNYZi4uch95jZyh2?si=YYxi4n8YScCaLWOaZ_ZhbQ playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0331-bachs-birthday/pl.b71264abca664b78aea125613be5af11 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4281733442 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: eisenach-georgenkirche-taufstein.jpg image-caption: The baptismal font in the Georgenkirche in Eisenach, over which Johann Sebastian Bach was baptised on April 2nd 1685, two days after his birth. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/4f04a083-4e14-40c9-a770-150b6d618807 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19433432 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every March 31st. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1255 | 200th anniversary of Augsburg Confession | June 26th 1730 was the 2nd day of the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession, the primary confession of faith of the Lutheran Church and one of the most important documents of the Lutheran Reformation. The Augsburg Confession was written in both German and Latin and was presented by a number of German rulers and free-cities at the Diet of Augsburg on 25 June 1530 to Emperor Charles V. Bach wrote no less than three cantatas for this celebration, but unfortunately all are lost. Luckily two of them where based on other cantatas that did survive. Gott, man lobet dich in der Stille, BWV 120b, lives on in the reworked BWV 120, which Bach wrote for the 1742 Ratwechsel (August 29th). Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 190a, is based on BWV 190, which he wrote for New Year's Day 1724. The last Cantata, Wünschet Jerusalem Glück, BWV Anh. 4a is unfortunately completely lost. | calendar-code: WBCF0626 liturgical-day: 200th anniversary of Augsburg Confession dayname-en: 200th anniversary of Augsburg Confession playlist-name: WBCF0626-200th anniversary of Augsburg Confession list-all-cantatas: Gott, man lobet dich in der Stille, BWV 120b (first performance 26 June 1730, Leipzig period) Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 190a (first performance 26 juni 1730, instrumental parts lost, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/decc706d34166f999d3b014cd75f4e3f473ced3b playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/0psTn2On35PrqJ1XuA4bnE playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0626-200th-anniversary-of-augsburg-confession-1/pl.0fe1caa418f24e7d925b4163112b1b7a playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4600475084 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: ausburg-confession-christian-beyer.jpg image-caption: Gravure by Christian Beyer (1482-1535) depicting the Imperial Diet in Ausburg, with the Augsburg Confession being presented to Emperor Charles V on the left. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/c62ea5de-7992-4242-8411-6eb7f5a884d0 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19777174 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every June 26th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1256 | Anniversary of Bach's death | July 28th, is the anniversary of Bach's death. Bach wrote several cantatas for funerals, but you'll hear those on other times in the year. I thought for once that it would be appropriate to select possibly the last work he was working on before turning completely blind, probably somewhere 1748-1749: Die Kunst der Fuge (The Art of the Fugue). This is a collection of fugues and canons on one or more themes, written for no specific instrument (some think it was ment to be studied rather than to be played, but where's the joy in that?). A manuscript by Bach survives, but, as Wikipedia describes it so well: "...it breaks off abruptly in the middle of its third section, with an only partially written measure 239. This autograph carries a note in the handwriting of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, stating "Über dieser Fuge, wo der Name B A C H im Contrasubject angebracht worden, ist der Verfasser gestorben." ("At the point where the composer introduces the name BACH [for which the English notation would be B♭–A–C–B♮] in the countersubject to this fugue, the composer died.") This account is disputed by modern scholars, as the manuscript is clearly written in Bach's own hand, and thus dates to a time before his deteriorating health and vision would have prevented his ability to write, probably 1748–1749." There are scores of versions out there, for all possible instruments or ensembles. Hapsichord, organ, piano, string quartet, flute quartet, saxophone quartet, full orchestra, and even the Swingle Singers. Truly interesting to discover. My personal favourite piano version is by Tatiana Nikolayeva, which was not available for a long time on streaming services, but it has become available in the mean time, so I'm really happy to be able to present it to you. The alternative I had before was by Pierre-Laurent Aimard, also worthwhile. Listen to this music and remember Bach. | calendar-code: WBCF0728 liturgical-day: Anniversary of Bach's death dayname-en: Anniversary of Bach's death playlist-name: WBCF0728-Anniversary of Bach's death list-all-cantatas: Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080 (first performance 1740-1750, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b2734e03c358a3a2e9f74df4bf4f playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/3KwjbFKBywN41L0HgOAtWg playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0728-anniversary-of-bachs-death/pl.u-11eJ1cJpEAk playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4610326264 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: bach-grave-leipzig.jpg image-caption: The grave of Johann Sebastian Bach in the Thomaskirche in Leipzig. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/842cc31e-7aa8-468b-8150-3f041876cce9 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19777371 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every July 28th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1257 | Ratswechsel 1727 | In Bach's Leipzig, on the Monday after the feast of St. Bartholomew (August 24), the newly elected town council for that year was inaugurated (this is called Ratswechsel in German). This festive occasion called for a cantata, and Bach has written many of which only five are left. The cantata for this day is the one he wrote for Ratswechsel 1727, first performed on August 25th of that year. This cantata was not fully intact, as the parts for tenor, bass, basso continuo and other instruments (probably trumpets and timpani, maybe also flutes) for all of the music are missing. A reconstruction was first done by Helmut Rilling in 1983, and subsequently in 1999 by Ton Koopman, which is the recording I have selected. | calendar-code: WBCF0825 liturgical-day: Ratswechsel 1727 dayname-en: Ratswechsel 1727 playlist-name: WBCF0825-Ratswechsel 1727 list-all-cantatas: Ihr Tore zu Zion, BWV 193 (first performance 25 August 1727?, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/f4652eb79da0ec79010e647b1b82462fa7628165 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/2ksYARJaz3MZuS8hCaYBcp playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0825-ratswechsel/pl.1cc75da1f56f4107aeb38ad81eb8b6ad playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4747241204 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: leipzig-altes-rathaus-1547.jpg image-caption: The oldest known depiction of Leipzig's Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) from 1547, before the modifications begun by Hieronymus Lotter around 1556, which have given the building its current dimensions and aspect, and which was also the building Bach was familiar with. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/1c43945a-943d-4d1e-8021-a71237a9fb43 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19778084 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every August 25th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1258 | Ratswechsel 1748 | Here's the second of the Ratswechsel cantatas. Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele, BWV 69, was written for Ratswechsel in 1748, which makes it one of the last cantatas Bach ever wrote. It's a rework of BWV 69a, written in 1723 for Trinitatis XII. | calendar-code: WBCF0826 liturgical-day: Ratswechsel 1748 dayname-en: Ratswechsel 1748 playlist-name: WBCF0826-Ratswechsel 1748 list-all-cantatas: Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele, BWV 69 (first performance 26 augustus 1748, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273a0e2e035cc223924ba4dd6fd playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/14QFbchRP8iR8jOUEawbew playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0826-ratswechsel-1748/pl.20053c7801e645d1ad15085ea2248a51 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4747246304 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: leipzig-altes-rathaus-1672.jpg image-caption: Etching of the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) in Leipzig from 1672. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/26d5695a-d6af-4495-bcdc-11452e8636a6 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19778340 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every August 26th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1259 | Ratswechsel 1731 | Bach has written no less than 27 Ratswechsel cantatas that we know of, but only 6 remain intact (1 in Mühlhausen, 5 in Leipzig), for some others we only have the lyrics. This Ratswechsel cantata was written in 1731: Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir, BWV 29. Most Ratswechsel cantatas are very festive, not only because of the occasion, but also because the performance was done in front of many high officials, so all performers wanted to shine, and Bach gave them plenty opportunity to do so. | calendar-code: WBCF0827 liturgical-day: Ratswechsel 1731 dayname-en: Ratswechsel 1731 playlist-name: WBCF0827-Ratswechsel 1731 list-all-cantatas: Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir, BWV 29 (first performance 27 August 1731, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/decc706d34166f999d3b014cd75f4e3f473ced3b playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/1bMQOHbIl5yELlx6Dkw8TW playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0827-ratswechsel-1731/pl.03bfb7c7d6fb4b17996e5b04cdb2e9e0 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4766198004 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 29: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-29/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: leipzig-altes-rathaus-festsaal.jpg image-caption: The main hall inside the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) of Leipzig today. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/94607f07-b2a1-4e69-be7b-ba6e06f332b0 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19778758 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every August 27th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1260 | Ratswechsel 1742 | This day offers you the fourth Leipzig Ratswechsel cantata, this one for the occasion in 1742. Gott, man lobet dich in der Stille, BWV 120, has parts which appeared in a wedding cantata (BWV 120a) and a cantata (BWV 120b) commemorating the Augsburg Confession in 1730. Bach also reworked the choral second movement for the Symbolum Nicenum of his Mass in B minor (BWV 232). | calendar-code: WBCF0829 liturgical-day: Ratswechsel 1742 dayname-en: Ratswechsel 1742 playlist-name: WBCF0829-Ratswechsel 1742 list-all-cantatas: Gott, man lobet dich in der Stille, BWV 120 (first performance 29 August 1742, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/d2b574e04ea8cdc2cd1b9885cd18032463826e6d playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/2PeQ45ENGKEULY4CYaCgK1 playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0829-ratswechsel-1742/pl.444cea73a75444679d668855badff368 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4766203844 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 120: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-120/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: leipzig-altes-rathaus-1712.jpg image-caption: View of the city of Leipzig centered on the main square and the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) from 1712. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/4ad9493c-85ea-49bf-854f-6070441b6203 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19778795 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every August 29th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1261 | Ratswechsel 1723 | This day's cantata is the fifth and last of the Leipzig Ratswechsel cantatas, Preise, Jerusalem, den Herrn, BWV 119, written for the occasion in 1723, Bach's first year in Leipzig. | calendar-code: WBCF0830 liturgical-day: Ratswechsel 1723 dayname-en: Ratswechsel 1723 playlist-name: WBCF0830-Ratswechsel 1723 list-all-cantatas: Preise, Jerusalem, den Herrn, BWV 119 (first performance 30 August 1723, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/decc706d34166f999d3b014cd75f4e3f473ced3b playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/2ZW5JWBYd14luM3CULdvom playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0830-ratswechsel-1723/pl.9fdc57fa17c9457d84967c41baa1a80f playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4766208304 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 119: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-119/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: leipzig-altes-rathaus-2013.jpg image-caption: The Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) today, which houses the Museum of City History of Leipzig. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/4544c8f7-1b1d-443e-8de9-14f92d51dc22 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19784933 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every August 30th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1262 | Funeral Queen Christiane Eberhardine | Laß, Fürstin, laß noch einen Strahl, BWV 198 is a cantata that Bach wrote for the funeral of Christiane Eberhardine, spouse of August II the Strong, the Elector of Saxony, the electorate (state) in which Leipzig is located. This cantata is also known as Trauerode or as Trauerode: auf den Tod der Königin Christiane Eberhardine. It was first performed on 17 October 1727 in the University Church in Leipzig. Bach himself directed from the harpsichord. Although a purely secular cantata with matching text (on how much the Queen will be missed), Bach hinted at salvation through cryptic references to previous religious cantatas he wrote. Bach later borrowed from this cantata for his Markus-Passion and for Klagt, Kinder, klagt es aller Welt, BWV 244a, another funeral ode written in 1729. | calendar-code: WBCF1017 liturgical-day: Funeral Queen Christiane Eberhardine dayname-en: Funeral Queen Christiane Eberhardine playlist-name: WBCF1017-Funeral Queen Christiane Eberhardine list-all-cantatas: Laß, Fürstin, laß noch einen Strahl, BWV 198 (first performance 17 October 1727, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/cb4710e2f6b9201947a1be85490a2fe1ac0fad0b playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/57f0VzQJHqIUNIrLuNiNxM playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf1017-funeral-queen-christiane-eberhardine/pl.u-38ANyFWRDvb playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4981448744 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 198: https://www.bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-198/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: christiane-eberhardine.jpg image-caption: An ivory carving of Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (1671-1727) by Jean Cavalier, a French artist who worked at many European courts. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/5f417d8b-5d60-4c11-ada6-27495b29415b playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19785776 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every October 17th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1263 | Consecration of Störmthal church and organ | In 1723, the church and organ of Störmthal, a village close to Leipzig was rebuilt on a commission by Statz Friedrich von Fullen. He requested approval of the organ by Bach, already Kapellmeister in Leipzig. He must have liked the instrument, because he wrote this special cantata for the consecration of the church and the instrument, and conducted the first performance on November 2nd 1723. Strangely enough, the organ does not play a part in the cantata. The cantata was later performed again on Trinity Sunday on at least three occasions. The Störmthal Organ has basically not changed since Bach's time, apart from some restaurations. Worth a visit? | calendar-code: WBCF1102 liturgical-day: Consecration of Störmthal church and organ dayname-en: Consecration of Störmthal church and organ playlist-name: WBCF1102-Consecration of Störmthal church and organ list-all-cantatas: Höchsterwünschtes Freudenfest, BWV 194 (first performance 2 November 1723, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/25b3955743884d6c77081703dc01edcd71252f88 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/6JPyitu46LOe7OgsVZCMHz playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf1102-consecration-of-st%C3%B6rmthal-church-and-organ/pl.64ae2bf707694c24a21668c2517e10e8 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4981502504 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: stormthal-hildebrandt-orgel.jpg image-caption: The organ in Störmthal, built in 1723 by Zacharias Hildebrandt, pupil of the famous organ builder Gottfried Silbermann. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/b3cb49a6-d7cd-4caa-a67a-c578f0785828 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19785901 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every November 2nd. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1264 | Birthday of August III of Poland, Elector of Saxony | This day marks the birthday of Augustus III of Poland and Elector of Saxony. Imagine getting a Bach cantata for your birthday! Well, being head of state at Bach's time and Bach being court composer probably grants you that prerogative. So on October 7th, 1736, Bach created Schleicht, spielende Wellen, und murmelt gelinde, BWV 206, for him in Leipzig, with a performance in Café Zimmermann. The librettist is unknown, but most likely it is Picander. He uses the allegory of four rivers that play an important part in the life of Augustus: the Weichsel in Poland; the Elbe which flows through Dresden, the residence of Augustus; the Donau, linked with the family of his wife Maria Josepha, the Habsburgs; and finally the small river Pleisse which flows through Leipzig. | calendar-code: WBCF1007 liturgical-day: Birthday of August III of Poland, Elector of Saxony dayname-en: Birthday of August III of Poland, Elector of Saxony playlist-name: WBCF1007-Birthday of August III of Poland, Elector of Saxony list-all-cantatas: Schleicht, spielende Wellen, und murmelt gelinde, BWV 206 (first performance 7 oktober 1736, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/274edeebbd78677061a3c93fe8dfcd0e2b02a279 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/7fl5wLWfUvrtfDbtes5eHE playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf1007-birthday-augustus-iii-poland-elector-saxony/pl.u-e9W65hAjv2M playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/4861571984 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 206: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-206/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: augustus-iii-of-poland-age-19.jpg image-caption: A portrait of Augustus III of Poland, aged 19, done in 1715 by the French painter Nicolas de Largillière. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/bf7c41af-d05a-496b-96dd-96b96fa2fa48 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19785759 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every October 7th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1265 | Holy Saturday | Holy Saturday or Sabbatum Sanctum is also called "Silent Saturday" because the church bells will not toll until Easter. I was unable to find any specific information on church services during Bach's time, but I suspect that there was probably no music allowed in mass (Tempus Clausum). However, this is an official day on the liturgic calendar, so I'm eager to fill the slot with some of Bach's magnificent music. I've chosen works where at least the orchestra remains silent: the wonderful Motets BWV 225 to BWV 230, here in a great recording by Philippe Herreweghe and the Collegium Vocale Gent. A lot is not known about these Motets, but BWV 228 appears to have been written in Weimar, and the others in Leipzig between 1723 and 1728. They are probably written for funerals, so they are appropriate for this Silent Saturday. They are also the only vocal works by Bach that stayed in the repertoire after Bach's death up until the Bach revival in the 19th century. They were also among the first music by Bach ever to be printed. | calendar-code: WBC27 liturgical-day: Holy Saturday dayname-en: Holy Saturday or Sabbatum Sanctum playlist-name: WBC27-Holy Saturday or Sabbatum Sanctum list-all-cantatas: Motets, BWV 225-230 (first performance 1723-1728?, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/47d1f122ddc43613f8bb8c3a21697bcb0be2a16b playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/116703585/playlist/22UnU7tckKzzERq6fFjQCn playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbc27-holy-saturday-or-sabbatum-sanctum/pl.u-38YDlsWRDvb playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/5699075662 extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 226: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-226/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: harrowing-of-hell-andrea-mantegna-1470.jpg image-caption: The Harrowing of Hell by Andrea Mantegna, around 1470. An important part of Mediaval Easter traditions, the Harrowing of Hell describes the descent by Christ into Hell between his death and resurrection to release the innocent victims of the devil. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ac4ce51a-8be7-4c24-93fd-81fd7be988b3 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19433323 cantata-day-occurrences: March 30 2024, April 19 2025, April 4 2026, March 27 2027, April 15 2028, March 31 2029, April 20 2030, April 12 2031, March 27 2032, April 16 2033, April 8 2034, March 24 2035, April 12 2036, April 4 2037. cantata-day-calculation: Saturday before Easter. Liturgical period : Lent. cantata-day-liturgical: 1 cantata-day-fixed: Variable cantata-day-liturgical-period: Lent |
| 1266 | Nameday August III and Dr August Friedrich Müller | August 3rd is the name day for anyone called August, or at least it was the case in Bach's time. So he wrote a few cantatas for important Augusts in his life. First up is Zerreißet, zersprenget, zertrümmert die Gruft, BWV 205, commissioned by the students of Leipzig University for the popular professor August Friedrich Müller and premiered on his name day on 3 August 1725 as a dramma per musica under the title Der zufriedengestellte Aeolus (The contented Aeolus). Its libretto was written by Picander (Christian Friedrich Henrici) and begins with Pallas Athene (sung by a soprano) setting up a celebration in honour of Müller. However, she fears that Aeolus (bass) could ruin the celebrations with heavy storms in August. With the help of Zephyrus (tenor), the god of mild winds, and Pomona, the goddess of fruitfulness (alto), Pallas manages to appease Aeolus, and those present grant a vivat in unison for the professor. (Source: Wikipedia) The most important August in Bach's life was King Augustus III of Poland, who, as Friedrich August II was Elector of Saxony (the German state where Bach lived), and we have two cantatas honouring him. Auf, schmetternde Töne der muntern Trompeten, BWV 207a, from 1735, is a rework of Vereinigte Zwietracht der wechselnden Saiten, BWV 207, from 1726, which in its turn reused the third movement of the first Brandenburg concerto, which he probably wrote while in Weimar, many years earlier. Bach always managed to get the most out of a great melody or theme. Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd!, BWV 208a, dates from 1742 but is again a rework from the original BWV 208 with the same title (also known as the Hunting Cantata), a very early cantata, written for the 31st birthday of Duke Christian of Saxe-Weissenfels on 23 February 1713. The performance I've chosen by the Pauliner Barockensemble and the Leipziger Universitätzschor is the only performance one I've found of 208a. All other performances are of the original 208, not without discussion although it is believed that the music is identical. Nonetheless, enjoy listening to these August cantatas! | calendar-code: WBCF0803 liturgical-day: Nameday August III and Dr August Friedrich Müller dayname-en: Nameday August III and Dr August Friedrich Müller playlist-name: WBCF0803-Nameday August III and Dr August Friedrich Müller list-all-cantatas: Zerreißet, zersprenget, zertrümmert die Gruft, BWV 205 (first performance 3 August 1725, Leipzig period) Auf, schmetternde Töne der muntern Trompeten, BWV 207a (first performance 3 augustus 1735, Leipzig period) Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd!, BWV 208a (first performance 3 August 1740, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ace560485df650ff80895c934a30077a526b7af6 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4gL6qf6SJiwGlH5yGH3Ers playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0803-nameday-augustus-iii-dr-august-friedrich-m%C3%BCller/pl.u-38Yq4uWRDvb playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/6226641704?utm_source=deezer&utm_content=playlist-6226641704&utm_term=1840638502_1563261433&utm_medium=web extra-info: The Netherlands Bach Society website has more information and a performance of BWV 207a: https://bachvereniging.nl/en/bwv/bwv-207a/ extra-info-title: Extra information image-name: august-macke-coloured-composition-hommage-to-johann-sebastian-bach.jpg image-caption: For this celebration of the nameday of August, it is appropriate to use a painting by German expressionist August Macke, called "Coloured composition hommage to Johann Sebastian Bach" (1912). Macke, born in 1887, died on the front in World War 1, in the Champagne region in 1914. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/ab15e142-90b3-4ed5-a8ca-ade736240018 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19777985 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every August 3rd. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1267 | Appointment of Gottlieb Kortte as professor to the University of Leipzig | This day marks the appointment of Gottlieb Kortte as professor of Roman Law at Leipzig University. The celebratory cantata Bach wrote for this occasion was performed possibly the evening of the 11th of December 1726, the day of the appointment, by the Collegium Musicum under direction of their conductor, Balthasar Schott. The cantata begins with an instrumental march, possibly used during a procession by the orchestra through the city, announcing the performance of the cantata. The openingschoir may sound familiar: Bach reused music from his first Brandenburg concerto, written in Köthen in 1721. Bach later reused this cantata to create Auf schmetternde Töne der muntern Trompeten, BWV 207a in 1735 for the nameday of the Elector of Saxony, King Augustus III of Poland which was celebrated on August 3rd. | calendar-code: WBCF1211 liturgical-day: Appointment of Gottlieb Kortte as professor to the University of Leipzig dayname-en: Appointment of Gottlieb Kortte as professor to the University of Leipzig playlist-name: WBCF1211-Appointment of Gottlieb Kortte as professor to the University of Leipzig list-all-cantatas: Vereinigte Zwietracht der wechselnden Saiten, BWV 207 (first performance 11 december 1726, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/174c16c3d627419dc2a16a9f2b3735a558d79b90 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4f8BvmLu8hejUgXBEJwne3?si=oLjoIunnTIqyvnXezr0SJw playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf1211-appointment-gottlieb-kortte-as-professor-to/pl.u-mJbl4I685bx playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/6849949924 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: leipzig-paulinum.jpg image-caption: The Paulinum in Leipzig, completed in 2007. It stands at the site of the former Pauliner Kirche, the Leipzig University church, which was destroyed in 1968 during the communist regime of East Germany. Bach performed many cantatas in the Pauliner Kirche. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/41cacc4d-c5af-4eea-8f68-d8c7391d7eab playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/17878195 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every December 11th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1268 | Celebration Johann Christian von Hennicke | This day's cantata is a secular cantata Bach wrote as an hommage to Johann Christian von Hennicke, a nobleman who had just acquired a castle in Wiederau, a small village in Saxony. The cantata, to a libretto by Picander, was first performed on this day in 1737 at Schloss Wiederau. Bach reused some of its music in later works, including Freue dich, erlöste Schar, BWV 30, a church cantata for the feast of St John Baptist (June 24), which was nearly entirely modelled after the secular composition. | calendar-code: WBCF0928 liturgical-day: Celebration Johann Christian von Hennicke dayname-en: Celebration Johann Christian von Hennicke playlist-name: WBCF0928-Celebration Johann Christian von Hennicke list-all-cantatas: Angenehmes Wiederau, BWV 30a (first performance 28 September 1737, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/f5e951a3c8ad904a353b9e6b856121a425476973 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0BcudmMH1IwgZ1vsB5VBfS?si=W2fyu94ERl6yFiJqHW0w1A playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0928-celebration-johann-christian-von-hennicke/pl.u-9N0E4srREj3 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/6536024964 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: wiederau-castle.jpg image-caption: Schloss Wiederau, where Angenehmes Wiederau, BWV 30a, was first performed on September 28th 1737. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/06f3ad36-7824-4cc2-bec9-39f902d6f0e2 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19785026 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every September 28th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1269 | Birthday of Leopold von Anhalt-Köthen | Two celebratory cantatas from the Köthen period, dedicated to his patron there, Prince Leopold von Anhalt-Köthen. Leopold most likely made Bach's acquaintance at the wedding of his sister Eleonore Wilhelmine to Ernest Augustus I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, which was held at his mother's estate in Nienburg on 24 January 1716. When his Kapellmeister left his post the following year, Leopold lost no time in offering the job to Bach, who signed his contract on 7 August 1717. Unfortunately, Bach was not able to break easily from his former employer Duke William Ernest of Saxe-Weimar, who imprisoned him from 6 November to 2 December 1717 for not following correct procedures in requesting release from his post as Konzertmeister at the court of Weimar. Only after 2 December 1717 Bach could finally take his new post in Köthen (source: Wikipedia). The first one, Der Himmel dacht auf Anhalts Ruhm und Glück, BWV 66a, is a reconstructed version by Alexander Grychtolik based on music from the Easter cantata Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, BWV 66. Grychtolik is a German harpsichordist and musicologist who specialises in the reconstruction of works by Bach; he also completely recreated the Markus Passion, of which the last surviving score was lost in a fire in 1945. So there may be discussion to the accuracy of this music, but at least it is a worthy attempt and an extra cantata for us to enjoy. The second one, Durchlauchtster Leopold , BWV 173a dates from 1720. He reused material of this cantata to create Erhöhtes Fleisch und Blut, BWV 173, for Pentecost Monday 1724 in Leipzig. Bach stated repeatedly that his period in Köthen was the happiest time of his life (although he lost his first wife there but soon remarried). So it is very likely that he wrote a yearly birthday cantata for his employer, but only two survive. It is also assumed that the first of these cantatas was performed on December 10th 1717, so only a week after Bach was released from his Weimar prison... impressive. | calendar-code: WBCF1210 liturgical-day: Birthday of Leopold von Anhalt-Köthen dayname-en: Birthday of Leopold von Anhalt-Köthen playlist-name: WBCF1210-Birthday of Leopold von Anhalt-Köthen list-all-cantatas: Der Himmel dacht auf Anhalts Ruhm und Glück, BWV 66a (first performance 3 December 1718, Köthen period) Durchlauchtster Leopold, BWV 173a (first performance 10 December 1722, Köthen period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273020a347a64c7067716a1a4ea playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0u6BSvGFSSpHHxuPyCMsd1?si=sUXhJsEyRCWYYDbQX4Nyvg playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf1210-birthday-leopold-von-anhalt-k%C3%B6then/pl.u-9N0x3TrREj3 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/6849904724 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: leopold-von-anhalt-koethen.jpg image-caption: Prince Leopold von Anhalt-Köthen (1694-1728) in a contemporary painting by an unknown artist. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/8b103074-2e8c-4202-b6b7-65b673a42f87 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/17874614 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every December 10th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1270 | Café Zimmermann season opener 1729 | Bach also wrote a wide collection of secular cantatas, very many of which where performed by the Collegium Musicum, an ensemble that performed in the Café Zimmermann, at 14 Katharinenstrasse in Leipzig. The ensemble existed already for quite a while; Telemann had directed them when he was a student in Leipzig. Upon his arrival in Leipzig, Bach, as Thomas Kantor, had been asked as guest director multiple times, before taking the lead of the ensemble in 1729, whereby the name changed to the Bachisches Collegium Musicum. This cantata, Geschwinde, ihr wirbelnden Winde (Der Streit zwischen Phoebus und Pan), BWV 201, was the season opener in the Café Zimmermann in 1729, so the first season under Bach's direction. It was performed at an unwknown date in the autumn of that year, and I've chosen October 1st just to mark the occasion. The cantata, with a libretto by Picander (Bach's favourite librettist at that time), uses the ancient myth of a musical contest between Phoebus-Apollo and Pan as a comment to a controversy between Bach's contemporaries about "popular" and "learned" music, the first being represented by Pan, the latter by Apollo. At the end, Pan is defeated completely. This "battle" structure reminds me of l'Apothéose de Lully by François Couperin, in which the Elysian gods pay homage to Jean-Baptiste Lully, and stage a battle between the French and Italian style of music. Considering that this work was published in 1725, it is not impossible that Bach may have known about it. | calendar-code: WBCF1001 liturgical-day: Café Zimmermann season opener 1729 dayname-en: Café Zimmermann season opener 1729 playlist-name: WBCF1001-Café Zimmermann season opener 1729 list-all-cantatas: Geschwinde, ihr wirbelnden Winde - Der Streit zwischen Phoebus und Pan, BWV 201 (first performance ? Fall 1729, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ace560485df650ff80895c934a30077a526b7af6 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ggdfMBGWK5tO4rW243NQ2?si=C3LBNeDGR6-D15J0kiMkyA playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf1001-caf%C3%A9-zimmermann-season-opener-1729/pl.u-mJb4JF685bx playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/6581412344 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: cafe-zimmermann-katharinastrasse.jpg image-caption: Katharinenstraße 16, 14 and 12, engraving by Johann George Schreiber in 1720. Number 14, the house in the middle, is Café Zimmermann, home of the musical ensemble Collegium Musicum, which Bach led from 1729 to 1741. The house was destroyed during a heavy Allied air raid on December 4th, 1943. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/d81b6bbf-7021-45d4-908e-b8f45b71fb58 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19785064 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every October 1st. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1271 | Marriage to Anna Magdalena Bach | The cantata I've chosen for this day is a wedding cantata. It is not known with certainty when the cantata was created. Some claim as early as 1714, during Bach's tenure in Weimar, because of certain style elements he rarely used later on. The classic thesis puts this cantata in Bach's Köthen period. There is a theory that it might have been created in the spring of 1720, because of the libretto which uses spring scenes as an allegory for growing love in marriage. But for some reason this cantata was always linked to Bach's marriage to his second wife, Anna Magdalena Wilcken, on December 3rd 1721, which is why I programmed it on that day. It is not a cantata for the church service of the marriage, but rather for the following festivities. The chamber music-like instrumentation support this. | calendar-code: WBCF1203 liturgical-day: Marriage to Anna Magdalena Bach dayname-en: Marriage to Anna Magdalena Bach playlist-name: WBCF1203-Marriage to Anna Magdalena Bach list-all-cantatas: Weichet nur, betrübte Schatten, BWV 202 (first performance ? 1720, Köthen period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/b09d1492406ff1bbac8214af4c41e0fde80d8a3a playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5oSNgz28rkxcEhvyMb6xRc?si=E2lTNVUhSy6cUQnrsGtW8A playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf1203-marriage/pl.u-38YvbTWRDvb playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/6849820244 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: koethen-bach-haus.jpg image-caption: The house where the Bach family stayed in Köthen from 1719 to 1723, in the Wallstraße. Initially Bach lived there with first wife, Maria Barbara Bach. She died in 1720, survived by four children. Bach married Anna Magdalena Bach on the 3rd of December 1721. The marriage took place in this house, "by command of the Prince", perhaps because Advent did not allow marriages in church. In 1723 the Bach family moved to Leipzig. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/f05f433c-9ea5-4ffd-997a-ba3d76272a58 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/17868747 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every December 3rd. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1272 | Birthday of Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels | In 1713 Bach was court organist in Weimar, and he went with his employer, William Ernest, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, to the 31st birthday celebrations of the neighbouring ruler, Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels, who was a keen hunter. After an extended hunting party, Bach performed this cantata on the evening of that day as a birthday gift by his employer. It is Bach's oldest known secular cantata. In 1725 Bach again composed a birthday cantata for the duke, even though the duke then was no longer his patron. This cantata, Entfliehet, verschwindet, entweichet, ihr Sorgen, BWV 249a, is also know as the "Shepherds Cantata". The original music is lost but the text by Picander survived. The cantata could be reconstructed, because Bach reused this music for his Oster-Oratorium, BWV 249, first performed a good month later, on April 1st 1725. The first reconstruction was done in the sixties by Friedrich Smend and Hermann Keller, which led to the first recording by Helmut Rilling and the Bach-Collegium Stuttgart in 1967. But I have chosen the more recent recording by Alexander Grychtolik. That same Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels visited Leipzig many years later, on January 12, 1729, and Bach wrote as a homage the cantata O angenehme Melodei, BWV 210a. | calendar-code: WBCF0223 liturgical-day: Birthday of Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels dayname-en: Birthday of Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels playlist-name: WBCF0223-Birthday of Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels list-all-cantatas: Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd!, BWV 208 (first performance 23 February 1713, Weimar period) Entfliehet, verschwindet, entweichet, ihr Sorgen, BWV 249a (first performance 23 February 1725, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b2736df163bda20145a4e483a70d playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0mrYrvPJADYhUhiMigEVG7?si=NOBQHl-CSbqa33JyiTQoSA playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0223-birthday-hertog-christian-van-saxe-weissenfels/pl.u-aZGjrsdZMNK playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/6956016844 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: jaegerhof-weissenfels.jpg image-caption: Hotel Jaegerhof in Weissenfels originally was the hunting lodge of the Dukes of Saxe-Weissenfels, and the location for the first performance of Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd!, BWV 208 in 1713. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/c92286a1-572b-4c4d-a658-d4438c91aa46 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/18957216 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every February 23rd. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1273 | Marriage | An extra cantata next to the liturgical cycle. Bach wrote O holder Tag, erwünschte Zeit, BWV 210, somewhere between 1738 and 1746. It is a cantata for a wedding, but it is not clear whose wedding it might have been. Several names and dates have been proposed by different Bach scholars, and I've picked quite randomly the wedding of Johanna Catharina Amalie Schatz and Friedrich Gottlob Zoller (11 August 1746). This work is based on O angenehme Melodei, BWV 210a, a homage cantata he wrote in 1729 (and which you can hear on January 12th each year). The performance I've chosen is by Christopher Hogwood's Academy of Ancient Music and the truly delightful Dame Emma Kirkby as soprano. | calendar-code: WBCF0811 liturgical-day: Marriage dayname-en: Marriage playlist-name: WBCF0811-Marriage list-all-cantatas: O holder Tag, erwünschte Zeit, BWV 210 (first performance ? 1738, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/3af88c656943bd8b018b9644ab4d85a8742386a4 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0YkPlrtZ928qyX7pZDUHom playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0811-marriage/pl.u-38YJ3tWRDvb playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/6228162284?utm_source=deezer&utm_content=playlist-6228162284&utm_term=1840638502_1563288107&utm_medium=web extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: eisenach-bach-goblet.jpg image-caption: On display in the Bachhaus in Eisenach is the Bach Goblet, one of very few undoubtedly authentic household items left from Bach's possessions. It is a Bohemian-Saxon work from around 1735. In the front, there is a VIVAT with a double (mirrored) monogram of the letters JSB underneath. The ends of the letters terminate in points. In total, there are 14 of these points – the Bach number, since B+A+C+H = 2+1+3+8 = 14 according to baroque numerology. In the back, there is a dedication poem that includes the name of Bach both in letters and in (German) musical notation. It is still an unsolved riddle who may have been the donor of the goblet, and on what occasion Bach received it. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/d6b471fb-2328-4821-a048-916893bee077 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19778032 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every August 11th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1274 | Birthday crown prince Friedrich Christian von Saksen | Laßt uns sorgen, laßt uns wachen (Let us take care, let us watch over), BWV 213, is a secular cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach composed it in Leipzig on a text by Picander and first performed it on 5 September 1733 at the Café Zimmermann in Leipzig. It is also known as Die Wahl des Herkules (The choice of Hercules) and Hercules am Scheidewege (Hercules at the crossroads). The cantata was composed for the 11th birthday of crown prince Friedrich Christian von Saksen, the son of Frederick Augustus II, Prince-Elector of Saxony and King of Poland. You will no doubt recognise the opening chorus, because it is identical to the opening chorus of the 4th part of the Weihnachtsoratorium: Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben, BWV 248 IV. And the aria 'Schlafe, mein Liebster' is a revised version of that same oratorium, now part II, the aria 'Schlafe, mein Liebster, genieße die Ruh'. I would have appreciated a full Bach cantata for my eleventh birthday. I hope Friedrich Christian enjoyed his! | calendar-code: WBCF0905 liturgical-day: Birthday crown prince Friedrich Christian von Saksen dayname-en: Birthday crown prince Friedrich Christian von Saksen playlist-name: WBCF0905-Birthday crown prince Friedrich Christian von Saksen list-all-cantatas: Laßt uns sorgen, laßt uns wachen, BWV 213 (first performance 5 September 1733, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ace560485df650ff80895c934a30077a526b7af6 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3NswJaHZdhaAPDODY0hRke playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0905-birthday-crown-prince-friedrich-christian/pl.u-DdDbqt9pVjk playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/6457621504 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: crown-prince-friedrich-christian.jpg image-caption: Portrait of crown prince Friedrich Christian of Saxony by Rosalba Carriera around 1739-1740 (Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden). Rosalba Carriera was a female rococo painter from Venice, Italy, who was admired by the crown prince's father Frederick Augustus II, Prince-Elector of Saxony and King of Poland. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/b5c6325b-fa83-4023-866a-0c11b1b4b780 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19784986 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every September 5th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1275 | Election anniversary of August III as King of Poland | In 1733, Augustus III succeeded his father (Augustus II) as King of Poland and Elector of Saxony. In 1734, on very short notice, a visit by Augustus to Leipzig was announced, and the anniversary of his election as Elector would occur during that visit. Bach, being court composer to the King and the Elector (as he wrote himself on the manuscript of the Goldberg Variations), immediately went to work. He composed Preise dein Glücke, gesegnetes Sachsen, BWV 215, in no more than three days. Luckily he had some older material to reuse, like the opening movement which probably was used in the now lost cantata Es lebe der König, der Vater im Lande, BWV Anh 11, written in 1732 for the nameday of his father. Nonetheless... only three days, a strong feat. This cantata was first performed on October 5th, 1734, in front of the Apels Haus, the Elector's palace on the market square in Leipzig, to great enjoyment of Augustus ("herzlich wohlgefallen" read the accounts). | calendar-code: WBCF1005 liturgical-day: Election anniversary of August III as King of Poland dayname-en: Election anniversary of August III as King of Poland playlist-name: WBCF1005-Election anniversary of August III as King of Poland list-all-cantatas: Preise dein Glücke, gesegnetes Sachsen, BWV 215 (first performance 5 October 1734, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/9e531262764870f3e9a7ff273d7630ad287c54ce playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6wqJXf16rmCeAeoreJbRJl?si=dToDJ__gRpSTp_tLJEFIvQ playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf1005-anniversary-election-august-iii-as-king-of-poland/pl.u-V92akFdopRv playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/6582888144 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: king-augustus-iii-of-poland.jpg image-caption: Portrait of Augustus III of Poland, Elector of Saxony -- workshop of Louis de Silvestre. He wears Polish garb and the Orders of the Golden Fleece and of the Holy Spirit. On the left hand side, on a chair upholstered with his crowned monogram, lies the mantle that the Saxon Government offered him for his coronation. To the right of the composition are, on a console, the insignias of regal power: crown, sceptre, and orb (Wikipedia). google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/889a06ca-19df-43ed-8fff-c2810716111a playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19785084 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every October 5th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1276 | Funeral service for Johann Christoph von Ponickau | On this day in 1727 occured the funeral of Johann Christoph von Ponickau, a Saxon nobleman and chamberlain. He was buried in the Wehrkirche (a fortified church) of Pomßen, a town close to Leipzig, and Bach wrote a funeral cantata for him, on a libretto from Picander. Von Ponickau himself chose the title text, which quotes a text from Genesis. Because this text lends itself to an interpretation which suits the holy day of Maria Purification (Candlemas, February 2nd), Bach performed this cantata in later years in Leipzig on that day. This cantata is not to be confused with the motet Ich lasse dich nicht, BWV Anh. 159, which originally was attributed to Bach's uncle Johann Christoph, but now appears to be an early Weimar work. | calendar-code: WBCF0206 liturgical-day: Funeral service for Johann Christoph von Ponickau dayname-en: Funeral service for Johann Christoph von Ponickau playlist-name: WBCF0206-Funeral service for Johann Christoph von Ponickau list-all-cantatas: Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn, BWV 157 (first performance 6 February 1727, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b27317a5366f22b0c32a490d1d32 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/74fnhMNvi3tc1ayHspGfFn?si=WMK7lfCoR2WfgvXta31AqA playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0206-funeral-service-for-johann-christoph-von-ponickau/pl.u-JP7eJFp7ZmR playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/6955796364 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: Pomszen-wehrkirche-interior.jpg image-caption: The interior of the Wehrkirche in Pomßen, where Bach performed BWV 157. The organ by Gottfried Richter (1640–1717) is the oldest organ in Sachsen. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/3586f354-92b3-4340-8b94-acc3ce6b992e playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/18711222 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every February 6th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1277 | Homage for Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels | On January 12, 1729, Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels, visited Leipzig. He was a high noble who was a patron of the arts, and Bach had already written Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd!, BWV 208a, for him in 1713. As a homage for this visit he wrote and performed the cantata, O angenehme Melodei, BWV 210a, on that day. The cantata became part of his repertory of congratulatory and homage cantatas, dedicated at least twice to different people and occasions. Bach used it as the base for his wedding cantata O holder Tag, erwünschte Zeit, BWV 210. Most of the music of this day's cantata was lost, but can be reconstructed from the later work, which survived completely, which is what musical historian Alexander Grychtolik managed to do, so we have to thank him when we are listening to this work. | calendar-code: WBCF0112 liturgical-day: Homage for Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels dayname-en: Homage for Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels playlist-name: WBCF0112-Homage for Christian, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels list-all-cantatas: O angenehme Melodei, BWV 210a (first performance 12 January 1729, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b2732470ac0ad88bcb5bd7a3882a playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7LsFwOPCiRzTndM6SsgjWc?si=_iE4uX_8TSK6f1o1fHgisw playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0112-homage-for-christian-duke-of-saxe-weissenfels/pl.u-762gbtpaXk9 playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/6955741024 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: christian-von-sachsen-weissenfels-portrait.jpg image-caption: A contemporary portrait of Christian von Sachsen-Weissenfels, attributed to Martin Bernigeroth (1670-1733) google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/5ea506a1-e403-47b3-ae81-a4dde813e4d3 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/18263502 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every January 12th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1278 | Birthday of Maria Josepha, Queen of Poland and Electress of Saxony | This day's cantata is part of a collection of celebratory cantatas Bach wrote in 1733-1734 for members of the royal house of Saxony. More specifically, this cantata was created for the birthday of Maria Josepha, wife of King Augustus III of Poland, Elector of Saxony. Maria Josepha more than likely never heard this cantata written in her honour. It was performed by the Collegium Musicum in the Café Zimmermann, but the score was sent to her court so at least she knew about it. Bach reused parts of this cantata a year later for the first and third cantata of the Weihnachtsoratorium, so this music will sound very familiar, and you'll hear it again with a different libretto in about two weeks. It is very likely that Bach already knew he would do that when he wrote this cantata. | calendar-code: WBCF1208 liturgical-day: Birthday of Maria Josepha, Queen of Poland and Electress of Saxony dayname-en: Birthday of Maria Josepha, Queen of Poland and Electress of Saxony playlist-name: WBCF1208-Birthday of Maria Josepha, Queen of Poland and Electress of Saxony list-all-cantatas: Tönet, ihr Pauken! Erschallet, Trompeten!, BWV 214 (first performance 7 december 1733, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273bce6516cd2e581837f3d9042 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4537v8JCnuUQDMHR0uAjcJ?si=0sHnoisMRbC8pZIW9EitQg playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf1208-birthday-maria-josepha-queen-poland-electress/pl.u-DdDz5I9pVjk playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/6849845704 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: maria-josepha-von-sachsen.jpg image-caption: Maria Josepha, the dedicatee, in a 1720 painting by the Venetian rococo painter Rosalba Carriera. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/24ea21b2-cfde-4dce-bc78-0be2a1314c33 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/17874600 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every December 8th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1279 | Marriage of Johann Lorenz Stauber | An extra cantata day outside the liturgical rhytm. Der Herr denket an uns, BWV 196, is a very early Bach cantata, dating from his Mühlhausen period. The only manuscript that remains from the cantata dates from 1730, so the occasion for which it was written required some research. Luckily for us, several Bach biographers have done this work. The nineteenth century German Bach biographer Philipp Spitta makes a very strong case to point to the wedding of Johann Lorenz Stauber on June 5th 1708. He was the pastor who officiated Bach's wedding to Maria Barbara Bach only eight months earlier. Also, the bride of Stauber, Regina Wedemann, was an aunt of Maria Barbara, so the link is very clear. It was a small celebration in a small church with a small balcony, and that is reflected in the setting: only four vocalists, violins and continuo are required. | calendar-code: WBCF0605 liturgical-day: Marriage of Johann Lorenz Stauber dayname-en: Marriage of Johann Lorenz Stauber playlist-name: WBCF0605-Marriage of Johann Lorenz Stauber list-all-cantatas: Der Herr denket an uns, BWV 196 (first performance 5 June 1708, Mühlhausen period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273ba4d512a0611661131957e3c playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6zOWxY6gFRkjMpBYa03quo?si=-CBhxdpmRPCFk9v-qy6wlA playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0605-marriage-of-johann-lorenz-stauber/pl.u-mJ5NBu685bx playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/6956040784 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: dornheim-bartholomaeuskirche.jpg image-caption: The St. Bartholomäikirche in Dornheim, where Der Herr denket an uns, BWV 196 was created in 1708. It is also the church where Bach married his first wife, Maria Barbara, in 1707. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/f1cf0d82-27e5-4ad3-9688-cc754c8bf626 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19637086 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every June 5th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1280 | Birthday of Carl Heinrich von Dieskau | Mer hahn en neue Oberkeet, BWV 212, is the last definitely dated Bach cantata, from 1742. It was written for the 36th birthday of Carl Heinrich von Dieskau (1706–1782), Kammerherr to the prince, and responsible for the tax collection in Leipzig. As such he was the boss of Christian Friedrich Henrici, known as Picander, a librettist with whom Bach worked intensively in Leipzig. It is believed that Picander himself asked Bach to put the poetry for his boss to music. Bach called this work a cantata burlesque, which it clearly is. It is now better known as the Peasant Cantata. I heard on the Flemish classical music radio Klara (thank you, Katelijne Boon!) that when Albert Fisher, a school principal, found out that his wife descended from Carl Heinrich von Dieskau, he added that name to the family name, including that of his very talented son... Dietrich Fisher-Dieskau, the world famous baritone who was one of the most important performers of Schubert lieder of the post-war period. | calendar-code: WBCF08302 liturgical-day: Birthday of Carl Heinrich von Dieskau dayname-en: Birthday of Carl Heinrich von Dieskau playlist-name: WBCF08302-Birthday of Carl Heinrich von Dieskau list-all-cantatas: Mer hahn en neue Oberkeet, BWV 212 (first performance 30 August 1742, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273aeae6758b7cc527c2d5dd80d playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2znVu8jjofLukJdBDSjQLR?si=K0zai4qqSSez2gzLJnGDRw playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf08302-birthday-of-carl-heinrich-von-dieskau/pl.u-V9qz7FdopRv playlist-deezer: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/8066889502 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: schloss_kleinzschocher.jpg image-caption: Schloss Kleinzschocher, southwest of Leipzig in Bach's time, but now engulfed by the city, was the residence of Carl Heinrich von Dieskau. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/b5adabfa-c9c6-4288-85d6-e513c55f7210 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19784946 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every August 30th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1281 | Mendelssohn's performance of the Matthaeus Passion | On this day, March 11th, in 1829, the Mattheaus Passion was heard again for the first time since Bach's time. At the Singakademie zu Berlin, with none other than Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy as conductor. Mendelssohn, only 20 at the time (!), had already been in contact with Bach's music at the Singakademie. Five years before his grandmother presented him with a unique gift: the complete score of the Passion. The work was really obscure at the time, forgotten by most, but Mendelssohn's grandmother recognised the outstanding quality of the work and passed it on to her prodigy grandchild. Mendelssohn really had to fight to get the complete work performed - people considered it too long and tedious, so he had to make some cuts in order to keep it within the hearing span of the time. But he finally got it performed on that day in 1829, opening up the road to Bach's rediscovery in the 19th century, without which we may have probably never known many if not all of Bach's work. Mendelssohn continued to study more pieces by Bach, not only cantatas but also his work for keyboard, which he performed all through Europe to famous figures of the time like Johann Wolfgang Goethe or Queen Victoria. It is of course not only Mendelssohn who was responsible for the rediscovery of Bach, but it is widely considered that this performance of the Mattheaus was a crucial milestone in getting widespread attention on Bach's work in the 19th century. So I've created a special playlist for this day, I hope the purists forgive me... It combines works by Bach of which it is known that Mendelssohn performed them, and some of his own compositions. As "bookends" to the playlist I've chosen the first and last movement of the Matthaeus Passion, the incredibly moving choruses "Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen" and "Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder", both of which give me goosebumps everytime I hear them. Up next is the delightful overture by Mendelssohn "The Hebrides", followed by an organ piece by Bach, Prelude and Fugue in E-flat major, BWV 552, of which it is known that Mendelssohn played it - he was a keyboard virtuoso. Then Mendelssohn's magnificent Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64, an absolute classic. Bach's Sonata in E minor for flute and basso continuo, BWV 1034, was also performed in the Mendelssohn family. It is important to realise that Mendelssohn spent most of his professional life in Leipzig, which brings him even closer to Bach. And the 1829 performance seems to inspire him to also create choral works. On suggestion of a subscriber of the site, Jennifer, I've added a wonderful recording by Philippe Herreweghe of Psalms 42 and 31, and a chorale cantata (based on a hymn by Martin Luther), Verleih uns in Frieden. Jennifer also recommends searching out Mendelssohn's Paulus and Elijah oratorio's. The last piece by Mendelssohn is the magnificent "Italian" Symphony No. 4 in A major, and as said we close with the last movement of the Matthaeus Passion. I hope you forgive me for this mixed playlist and that you enjoy it... I think as Bach enthousiasts we should be grateful for the perseverance and musical insight of people like Mendelssohn! | calendar-code: WBCF0311 liturgical-day: Mendelssohn's performance of the Matthaeus Passion dayname-en: Mendelssohn's performance of the Matthaeus Passion playlist-name: WBCF0311-Mendelssohn's performance of the Matthaeus Passion list-all-cantatas: Passio secundum Matthaeum - 1. Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen, BWV 244 (first performance 11 April 1727, Leipzig period) The Hebrides or Fingal's Cave, Overture in B minor for orchestra Op.26, MWV P7 (first performance 1830-1832) Prelude and Fugue in E-flat major, BWV 552 (first performance 1739, Leipzig period) Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64, MWV O14 (first performance 1830-1832) Sonata in E minor for flute and basso continuo, BWV 1034 (first performance 1717-1723, Köthen period) Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. Posth. 90, "Italian", MWV N16 (first performance 13 May 1833) Passio secundum Matthaeum - 68. Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder, BWV 244 (first performance 11 April 1727, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://mosaic.scdn.co/640/ab67616d0000b2734b34c2fd4036882a475ca86bab67616d0000b27377bfc9e1788ea4764523e1e4ab67616d0000b273b8c12abbb7114cdd0bc372f9ab67616d0000b273e18c79ed0a39f4b10b0d2359 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7FdSlD21OqyZkatD7r7EMj?si=0f4bb80c2a614fa8 playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0311-mendelssohns-performance-of-the/pl.u-384DbCWRDvb playlist-deezer: https://deezer.page.link/BZ4ABqqpjaoubRNH9 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: mendelssohn-statue-thomaskirche.jpg image-caption: Statue of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy next to the Thomaskirche in Leipzig. Mendelssohn's performance of the Matthaeus Passion in 1829, the first performance since Bach's lifetime, was a watershed moment in the rediscovery of Bach's work in the 19th century. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/88f28e5b-a9b8-42b6-b57e-d8e16ee6f807 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19160981 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every March 11th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1282 | Birthday of Princess Charlotte Friederike of Nassau-Siegen | While already living in Leipzig, Bach retained a role as court composer to Leopold, Prince of Anhalt-Köthen, for whom he had worked full-time in the period 1717–1723. This cantata was written for the 24th birthday of the prince's second wife, Princess Charlotte Friederike Amalie of Nassau-Siegen on 30 November 1726, the likely date of the work's premiere, although this is not documented. Although the music for the cantata is lost, we have some idea of what it sounded like. When Bach wrote for a one-off occasion such as a birthday, he sometimes recycled the music in another composition. In this case there appear to be several related works. The numbering of Steigt freudig in die Luft in the standard catalogue of Bach's works, the Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis, reflects a presumed relationship to extant cantatas, which use variants of Picander's celebratory text, Schwingt freudig euch empor, BWV 36 with its different variations. The piece has been reconstructed by Alexander Ferdinand Grychtolik, who has worked on other lost works by Bach. Grychtolik adapted the music from Schwingt freudig euch empor, BWV 36c and composed new recitatives. He performed his reconstruction at Köthen's Bach Festival in 2012, and released a recording, included in the playlist for this day. (Source: Wikipedia). | calendar-code: WBCF1130 liturgical-day: Birthday of Princess Charlotte Friederike of Nassau-Siegen dayname-en: Birthday of Princess Charlotte Friederike of Nassau-Siegen playlist-name: WBCF1130-Birthday of Princess Charlotte Friederike of Nassau-Siegen list-all-cantatas: Steigt freudig in die Luft, BWV 36a (first performance 30 November 1726, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273a60087753eb6c35f785bc685 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7KhaNxvcroXIam5Y8W7Yvr?si=3761237836b64273 playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf1130-birthday-of-princess-charlotte-friederike/pl.u-d2B6lCRNzlb playlist-deezer: https://deezer.page.link/JCKQJrPqNVWBvWmB7 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: charlotte-friederike-von-nassau-siegen.jpg image-caption: Portrait of Charlotte Friederike of Nassau-Siegen (1702-1785), wife of Leopold of Anhalt-Kothen, painted around 1751, probably by Christoph Gottfried Ringe. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/e1b0c13c-4501-4e40-b81c-b7fdf4e6f76f playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/17874896 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every November 30th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
| 1283 | Coronation of August III as King of Poland | On January 17 1734 the Elector of Saxony, Friedrich August II, was crowned King of Poland as August III. Bach created the cantata Blast Lärmen, ihr Feinde, BWV 205a, for this occasion. For reason unknown it was not performed in January on the day itself, but saw its first performance on February 11th 1734 at the Café Zimmermann in Leipzig. The cantata itself is lost unfortunately, but it is a parody of Zerreißet, zersprenget, zertrümmert die Gruft, BWV 205, a cantata he wrote 9 years earlier for the name day of Dr. August Friedrich Müller of the University of Leipzig. The libretto is probably by Picander. Again we need to thank Alexander Grychtolik for the reconstruction of this lost parody cantata, starting from that original. | calendar-code: WBCF0219 liturgical-day: Coronation of August III as King of Poland dayname-en: Coronation of August III as King of Poland playlist-name: WBCF0219-Coronation of August III as King of Poland list-all-cantatas: Blast Lärmen, ihr Feinde, BWV 205a (first performance 19 February 1734, Leipzig period) playlist-image-url: https://i.scdn.co/image/ab67616d0000b273e8f293a798fb7e37c866eff5 playlist-spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7op8Mafv9YBw7LyGE9oD03?si=377ed275fb1a422f playlist-applemusic: https://music.apple.com/be/playlist/wbcf0219-coronation-of-august-iii-as-king-of-poland/pl.u-e9q45fAjv2M playlist-deezer: https://deezer.page.link/yWTHJzCXdd8gT5wL7 extra-info: extra-info-title: image-name: coronation-mantle-of-augustus-iii.jpg image-caption: Coronation mantle of Augustus III which he wore on January 17 1734. National Museum in Warsaw. google-site-map-priority: .5 change-frequency: weekly playlist-tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/37e5a43a-cd0d-4ef5-b887-a497b2dcd831 playlist-qobuz: https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/19139413 cantata-day-occurrences: cantata-day-calculation: Occurs every February 19th. Not a liturgical day. cantata-day-liturgical: 0 cantata-day-fixed: Fixed cantata-day-liturgical-period: Not a liturgical cantata day |
