Bach's Project

2. Bach Kantaten (Bach Cantatas)
Bach wrote more than 200 Kantaten when he was a Kantor at the St. Thomas Church, Leipzig and the St. Nicholas Church.It was part of his job to perform a church cantata every Sunday and Holiday, related to the readings prescribed by the Lutheran liturgy for the specific occasion. In his first years in Leipzig, starting after Trinity of 1723, he composed a new work every week and conducted soloists, the Thomanerchor and orchestra as part of the church service.
Three annual cycles of cantatas survived.

1.church cantatas he composed sacred cantatas for functions like weddings or Ratswahl (the inauguration of a new town council)

2.secular cantatas for anniversaries and entertainment in nobility and society

3.Glückwunschkantaten (congratulatory cantatas) and Huldigungskantaten (homage cantatas).

The words for many cantatas combine Bible quotes, contemporary poetry and chorale, but he also composed a cycle of chorale cantatas based exclusively on the verses of one chorale.

A typical Bach cantata of his first year in Leipzig follows the scheme:

Coro - opening chorus
Recitativo
Aria
Recitativo (or Arioso)
Aria
Chorale


I hv heard Canatatas BMV 110, 40 and 71
BMV 110 and 40 are for liturgical ceremonies marking the 1st and 2nd day of Christmas, so it is more religional! The mood is solemn, but on the other hand,the chorus erputs into jubilant cheers.
BMV 71 is composed for a secular celebration so the tone is a bit different.
But to tell the truth, i duno how to appreciate opera and canatatas. It's sth that i want to learn.