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First Five Sundays after Easter Leading to Cantate |
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William L. Hoffman wrote (May 24, 2025):
The first four Sundays after Easter — Quasimodogeneti (Like New-Born babes, Which Bach Cantata: Quasimodogeniti), Misericordia Domini (The Goodness of the Lord, as The Good Shepherd, Which Bach Cantata: Miserordias Domini), Jubilate (Sorrow turned to Joy, Which Bach Cantata: Jubilate), Cantate (Sing to the Lord, Which Bach Cantata: Cantate — are transitional times when the gospel of John turns to Jesus' Farewell Discourse to His Disciples (Chapters 14-16), says Eric Chafe in his Bach Johannine study.1 While Bach was beginning Easter Season in 1725, he made a major compositional shift on Easter Monday from the last of his chorale cantatas in his second cycle, Easter Sunday Cantata BWV 4, to the completion of his Johannine Trilogy (Passion, Resurrection, Farewell Discourse) involving the St. John Passion, BWV 245.2; the Easter Cantata, BWV 249.3 (as an Italianate oratorio; John 20:1-18, Resurrection, Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, Bible Gateway), and the Farewell Discourse (John Chapters 14-16).
Quasimodogeneti (Bach Single Lectionary)
Bach music (single lectionary) for Quasimodogeneti (1st Sunday after Easter, Like new-born babes, Which Bach Cantata: Quasimodogeniti, BCW is: Cantata BWV 67 (16 April 1724, "Halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ" (Keep in memory Jesus Christ, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois); and Cantata BWV 42 (8 April 1725, "Am Abend aber desselbigen Sabbats" (On the evening of the same sabbath, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois). Bach performed a third work for the 1st Sunday after Easter, the cousin Johann Ludwig Bach (BCW) Cantata "Wie lieblich sind auf den Bergen," for 1st Sunday after Easter, JLB-6 (Scored for satbSATB, Str and Bc) - 28 April 1726.
Bach took a break from composing church cantatas during the Trinity Time of 1725, preparing for his third cantata cycle while beginning his second Passion Oratorio, St, Matthew, BWV 244. The simultaneous challenge was too great for a complete third cycle while Bach composed during certain periods according to his Lutheran Church Year Calendar (1725 BCW, 1726 BCW, 1727 BCW: Christmas Day to the 3rd Sunday after Epiphany, Jubilate, Ascension, Trinity Sunday, 1st Sunday after Trinity, Sundays after Trinity 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, Michaelmas/15, 16-19, Reformationsfest, 20-23 — 27 original Bach works, plus periods in between for the Ludwig Bach cantatas (17, Purification, Epiphany 4-5, Gesimae 5-7, Annunciation, Easter Sunday to Tuesday, Easter 1, 2, 4-6, Visitation, Trinity 3-4, 9-11, 13 and in 1727 there were four Bach works: BWV BWV 59 (Sunday after Christmas), BWV 82, BWV 83 (Purification), BWV 85 (Gesima 7). During this period from Trinity Time 1725 through 1726, Bach also had performed works of others, primarily Telemann (see BCW.
Quasimodogeneti (3-Year Common Lectionary)
The current three-year Revised Common Lectionary, says John S. Sutterlund,2 has three yearly settings for Quasimodogeneti (1st Sunday after Easter, gospel John 20:19-31 (Resurrection of Jesus, Bible Gateway), which enables other uses of Bach sacred music: Year C, 27 April 2025, preferred Cantata BWV 149 (1729 Michaelmas feast, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois), alternate Cantata BWV 42 (1725 Quasimodogeniti, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois). Year A, 12 April 2026, preferred Cantata BWV 67 (1724 Quasimodogeniti, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois), alternate Cantata BWV 134.3 (1724 Easter Tuesday, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois). Year B, 4 April 2027, preferred Cantata BWV 42 (see above Year C alternate), alternate Cantata BWV 158 (before 1735, Easter Tuesday, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
Misericordias Domini (Bach Single Lectionary)
Bach's music (single lectionary) for Misericordia Domini (2nd Sunday after Easter, Good Shepherd, , BCW) is: Cantata BWV 104 (23 April 1724, "Du Hirte Israel, höre" (You Shepherd of Israel listen, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois); Cantata BWV 85 (15 April 1725, "Ich bin ein guter Hirt" (I am a good shepherd, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois); and pure-hymn chorale Cantata BWV 112 (Psalm 23 paraphrase, 8 April 1731, "Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt" (The Lord is my faithful shepherd, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois). Bach performed a fourth cantata for the 2nd Sunday after Easter, 5 May 1726, Johann Ludwig Bach's Cantata "Und ich will ihnen einen Hirten, JLB-12 (Scored for satbSATB, Str and Bc).
Misericordias Domini (3-Year Revised Common Lectionary)
Bach's music in the 3-year Common lectionary has for Misericordia Domini (2nd Sunday after Easter, Good Shepherd, 4 May 2025) has the following: Year C, gospel, John 21:1-19 (Jesus appears to seven disciples), preferred Cantata BWV 93 (9 July 1724, 5th Sunday after Trinity, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois), alternate chorale Cantata BWV 4.2 (9 April 1724, Easter Sunday, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois). Year A, 19 April 2026, gospel Luke 24:13-35, Walk to Emmaus, Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata BWV 6 (1725 Easter Monday, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois.); Year B, 11 April 2027, gospel Luke 24:36b-48 (Jesus appears to his disciples in Upper Room, Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata BWV 134 (1724 Easter Tuesday, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois), alternate Cantata BWV 67 (see above Quasimodogeneti Year A, preferred).
Jubilate (Bach Single Lectionary)
Bach's music (single lectionary) for Jubilate (3rd Sunday after Easter, Sorrow turned to Joy, Which Bach Cantata: Jubilate, BCW) involves the following music: Cantata BWV 12 (30 April 1724, "Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen" (Weeping, lamentation, worry, apprehension, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois); Cantata BWV 103 (22 April 1725, "Ihr werdet weinen und heulen" (You will weep and howl, Carus-Media, Carus-Media); Cantata BWV 146 (12 May 1726, "Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal in das Reich Gottes eingehen" Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois). Bach performed an additional work for Jubilate, as he had done on Quasimodogeneti, Johan Ludwig Bach's Cantata JLB-8, "Die mit Tränen säen" (Those who sow with tears, BCW).
Jubilate (3-Year Revised Common Lectionary)
Bach's music in the 3-year Common Lectionary for Jubilate (3rd Sunday after Easter, Sorrow turned to Joy, 11 May 2025) has the following: Year C, gospel John 10:22-30 (Jesus rejected by the Jews, Bible Gateway), preferred chorale Cantata BWV 112 (Psalm 23, Misericordias Domini, 8 April 1731, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois), alternate Cantata BWV 85 (Misericordias Domini, 15 April 1725, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois). Year A, gospel John 10:1-10 (Jesus the Good Shepherd, Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata BWV 175 (Pentecost Tuesday, 22 May 1725, Er rufet seinen Schafen mit Namen, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois), alternate Cantata BWV 104 (see above, Misericordias Domini (Bach Single Lectionary), 23 April 1724. Year B, gospel John 10:11-18 (I am the Good Shepherd, Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata BWV 85 (see above, Year C, alternate Cantata BWV 85), alternate Cantata BWV 184.2 (Pentecost Tuesday, 30 May 1724, "Erwünschtes Freudenlicht" (Longed-for light of joy, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
Cantate (Bach Single Lectionary)
Bach's music (single lectionary) for Cantate (4th Sunday after Easter, Sing to the Lord a new song, Which Bach Cantata: Cantate, BCW) involves the following music: Cantata BWV 166, "Wo gehest du hin?" (Where goes thou?, 7 May 1724, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois); Cantata BWV 108, "Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe" (It is good for you that I should go away, 29 April 1725; Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois). Bach performed an additional work for Cantate, as he had done on Quasimodogeneti, Johann Ludwig Bach's Cantata "Die Weisheit kommt nicht in eine boshafte Seele" (Wisdom enters not into a wicked soul), JLB-14, 19 May 1726.
Cantate (3-Year Revised Common Lectionary)
Bach's music in the 3-year Common Lectionary for Cantate (4th Sunday after Easter, Sing to the Lord a new song; gospel John 16:5-15, Jesus' Farewell Discourse, "It is expedient that I go away," BCW), 7 May 1724) has the following: Year C, gospel John 13:31-35 (18 May 2025, The new commandment, Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata BWV 95 (Christus, der ist mein Leben, 16th Trinity Sunday, 12 September 1723; Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois), alternate, Cantata BWV 76 (2nd Trinity Sunday, 6 June 1723, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois). Year A, gospel John 14:1-14 (3 May 2026, Jesus, the Way to the Father, Bible Gateway), preferred Motet BWV 229 (nd, Carus-Media Carus-Verlag, The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, alternate chorale Cantata BWV 99 II (15th Sunday after Trinity, 17 September 1724; Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois). Year B, gospel John 15:1-8 (25 April 2027, Christ the Vine, Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata BWV 148 (17th Sunday after Trinity, 19 September 1723; Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois), alternate, Cantata BWV 31.2 (Easter Sunday, 9 April 1724; Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
ENDNOTES
1 Eric Chafe, J. S. Bach's Johannine Theology: The St. John Passion and the Cantatas for Spring 1725 (Oxford: Oxford University Press 2014: 5), Amazon.com, BCW). "Bach's Johannine Trilogy Begins: Passion, Resurrection, Farewell Discourse" (BCW).
2 John S. Sutterlund, Bach Through the Year: The Church Music of Johann Sebastian Bach and the Revised Common Lectionary, 2nd ed. (Minneapolis MN: Lutheran University Press, 2013: 47ff)._________ |
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To Come: Easter Season music (BCW: Rogate through Trinity Sunday; Apostles Days (Mark, Evangelist; Philip & James, Apostles; Mathias, Apostle). |
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