|
|
Easter Season: Rogate through Trinity Sunday; Apostles Days |
|
William L. Hoffman wrote (June 2, 2025):
The final half of the Easter Season in Leipzig in 1725 (LCY, Carus-Verlag) offered no chorale cantatas but often addressed the gospel meaning of Sundays after Easter, Rogate with Cantata BWV 87 and Exaudi with Cantata BWV 183, while using an opening chorale chorus in Cantatas BWV 128 for the Ascension feast and Cantata BWV 68 for Pentecost Monday. "None of the von Ziegler cantatas are chorale cantatas in the strict sense, although the Ascension cantata and the Pentecost Monday cantata open with chorale fantasias. These two cantatas (BWV 128 and BWV 68) are sometimes associated with the chorale cantata cycle, especially the second one while it was included in the chorale cantata cycle that remained at St. Thomas until the 19th century" (source, Wikipedia: scroll down to "Cantatas with a libretto by C. M. von Ziegler: third Sunday after Easter to Trinity 1725").
The three feast days in Easter (Ascension, Pentecost Sunday and Trinity Sunday) had as many as four cantatas each (see below). While the Pentecost Monday and Tuesday and Trinity Sunday feasts were part of the liturgical period Lesser Time II which extended through the end of Trinity Time (25 Sundays), earlier the Lesser Time I period covered the Epiphany Sundays and the pre-Lenten "gesimae" Sundays. During the Easter Season there were special occasions involving saints' days:
The final Sundays and feast days after Easter began with Rogate Sunday (Which Bach Cantata: Rogate), theme "Pray," followed by the Ascension Day feast on Thursday with four festive cantatas (Which Bach Cantata: Ascension, Which Bach Cantata: Christi Himmelf.), then Exaudi Sunday "Waiting Sunday" for Pentecost Sunday (Which Bach Cantata: Exaudi), next Pentecost Sunday with four festive cantatas (Which Bach Cantata: Whit Sunday, BCW), followed by the Lesser Time II Pentecost Monday (Which Bach Cantata: Whit Monday, BCW) and Lesser Time II Pentecost Tuesday (Which Baach Cantata: Whit Tuesday, BCW); finally Lesser Time II Trinity Sunday (Which Bach Cantata: Trinitatis, BCW). The Lesser Time (Omnes Tempore) second half of the church year was only a time period (primarily Trinity Time) and not a Propers Time (De Tempore) on the ministry of Jesus Christ. During the Easter Season there were special occasions involving saints' days (Mark, Evangelist April 25; Philip & James, Apostles, May 1; Mathias, Apostle, May 14), as well as a Marian feast of the Visitation (May 31 in the current lectionary or July 2 in the Bach single lectionary
Rogate (Bach Single Lectionary)
The 5th Sunday after Easter, Rogate, meaning "pray" (Which Bach Cantata: Rogate) has two distinctive cantata settings from the Gospel of John 16:23-30 (Jesus' Farewell Discourse to the Disciples: Ascension anticipated, Bible Gateway), both cantatas with bass ariosi Vox Christi: 1. "Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage euch" (Truly, truly, I say to you), BWV BWV 86 (1st performance 14 May 1724), 2. "Bisher habt ihr nichts gebeten in meinem Namen" (Until now you have asked nothing in my name), BWV 87 (1st performance, 6 May 1725). In addition, Bach presented Johann Ludwig Bach (BCW) Cantata "Der Herr ist nahe allen, JLB ? (1st performance 26 May 1726, Leipzig; Lost) (?). Bach's performance calendar for Rogate (BCW) shows three single performances from 1724 to 1726 with Cantata BWV 86 text attributed possibly to Christian Weiß Sr. and Cantata BWV 87 to Christiane Mariane von Ziegler.
Rogate (3-Year Revised Common Lectionary)
Bach's music in the current 3-year Revised Common Lectionary for Rogate (5th Sunday after Easter, 25 May 2025), says John S. Setterlund,1 offers a variety of sacred music for the three years: Year C, Gospel John 14:23-29 (If a man loves me, he will keep my word . . . ) or John 5:1-9 (Jesus heals on Sabbath, Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata BWV 59 ("Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten [I]," Pentecost Sunday, 16 May 1723 Paulinerkirche; Carus-Media, BCW ), alternate Cantata 48 ("Ich elender Mensch, wer wird mich erlösen," 19th Sunday after Trinity, 3 October 1723; Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
Year A, Gospel John 14:15-21 (Bible Gateway, 10 May 2026), preferred Cantata BWV 108 ("Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe," Cantate 29 April 1725; Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois), alternate Motet BWV 226, "Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf," Funeral 26 October 1729 (Carus-Verlag.
Year B, Gospel John 15:9-17 (As the Father has loved me, Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata BWV 172.2 (Pentecost Sunday 28 May 1724, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois), alternate, Cantata BWV 57 (St. Stephen's Day, 26 December 1725, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
Ascension Day (Bach Single Lectionary)
Ascension Day (Which Bach Cantata: Ascension) celebrates Jesus' ascension to heaven. It is the 40th day of Easter and is one of chief feasts of the Christian year (BCW), with the Gospel of Mark 16:14-20 (Jesus commissions the Disciples, Bible Gateway). Bach composed four cantatas for this special Thursday feast: Cantata BWV 37 "Wer da gläubet und getauft wird," 18 May 1724 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois); "Cantata BWV 128 "Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein," 10 May 1725 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois); Cantata BWV 43 "Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen," 30 May 1726 (Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois; and Cantata BWV 11 "Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen" [Ascension Oratorio], 15 May 1738, NOT 19 May 1735 (IOPN Library Illinois, Carus-Media, BCW).
Ascension Day (3-Year Revised Common Lectionary)
In the current 3-Year Revised Common Lectionary, three Bach Ascension works (BWV 128, BWV 43, and BWV 11) use one gospel Luke 24:44-53 (Disciples blessed, Jesus' Ascension) presented over three years: Year C, preferred Cantata BWV 43, 29 May 2025, alternate, Cantata BWV 128. Year A, preferred Cantata BWV 128, 14 May 2026, alternate Cantata BWV 11. Year B, preferred Cantata BWV 11, 6 May 2027, alternate Cantata BWV 43.
Exaudi (Bach Single Lectionary)
As the Easter season draws to a close, the final, non-festal Sunday, Exaudi, is the first Sunday after Acension Thursday or the 6th Sunday of Easter and is preparation for Pentecost, the following Sunday. Exaudi Sunday comes from the first word of the Introit opening: "Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice (Psalm 27, A Prayer of Praise). A Bach Mailing List Discussion involves Exaudi as Pentecost preparation (BCW). Bach left only two extant Cantatas for Exaudi, BWV 44 in 1724 and BWVBWV 183 in 1725 — both with the same Gospel cautionary dictum, John 16:2, “Sie werden euch in den Bann tun" (They will put you under a ban), his Farewell Discourse to his disciples that they would be shunned from the temple. Exaudi also emphasized the expectation of the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday as the birthday of the Church and its half season (omnes tempore, Ordinary Time) of teachings, as well as the blessing of baptismal waters signifying the coming of the disciples' baptism with the spirit on Pentecost Sunday, as Jesus promised them (Acts 1:5). Interestingly, there are no extant settings of the Rudolstadt texts for the three-day Pentecost feast and Trinitasfest. For these four feast days in 1727, Bach presented a new work, BWV BWV 34, "O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe" (O eternal fire, o source of love), another virtual parody from an occasional sacred work as with the first reperformances of parodies BWV 173, "Erhöhtes Fleisch und Blut" (Exalted flesh and blood), and BWV 184, "Erwünschtes Freudenlicht" (Longed-for light of joy), originally presented in 1724 for the 2nd and 3rd Pentecost feast days of Monday and Tuesday.
Exaudi (3-Year Revised Common Lectionary)
For this non-festive final Sixth Sunday after Easter, the current 3-Year Revised Common Lectionary introduces a variety of sacred cantatas from the Church Year. The current year, Year C, uses John's Gospel 17:20-26, following Jesus' Farewell Discourse, He prays for his disciples (Bible Gateway), preferred chorale Cantata 125 ("Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin," Purification feast/Simeon's Canticle 2 February 1725; Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois), alternate chorale Cantata 126 ("Erhalt uns Herr bei deinem Wort," Lutheran battle hymn, pre-Lenten Sexagesimae 4 February 1725; IOPN Library Illinois, Carus-Media).
Year A, Gospel John 17:1-11 (Jesus prays for His Disciples, Bible Gateway), preferred, Cantata 152 ("Tritt auf die Glaubensbahn," Sunday after Christmas, 30 December 1714; Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois), alternate Cantata BWV 43 (see above, Ascension Day [Bach Single Lectionary]).
Year B, Gospel John 17:6-19 (Work of the Holy Spirit, Bible Gateway), Preferred POV Chorale Cantata BWV 100 ("Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan [III]," What God does, that is done well, 1732-35 (BCW; Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois), alternate Cantata BWV 98 ("Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan I"), 21st Sunday after Trinity, 10 November 1726, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
Pentecost Sunday (Bach Single Lectionary)
For Pentecost Sunday, as well as Ascension Day (see above) and Trinity Sunday (see below), Bach composed some four works for each feast day: Which Bach Cantata: Whit Sunday, BWV 172, BWV 59, BWV 74, BWV 34, Epistle Acts 2:1-1 (Descent of Holy Spirit), Gospel John 14:23-31 (If a man loves me, he will my word), BCW. The music involves Cantatas BWV 172, "Erschallet, ihr Lieder, erklinget, ihr Saiten!" (Weimar, 20 May 1714, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois); BWV 59, "Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten I" (Leipzig, 16 May 1723, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois); BWV 74, "Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten II" (Leipzig, 20 May 1725, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois); BWV 34, "O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe" (Leipzig, 1 June 1727, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
Pentecost Observances (3-Year Revised Common Lectionary)
The current 3-Year Revised Common Lectionary offers various church works for Pentecost Sunday feast and related events. The Vigil of Pentecost is held on Pentecost Eve (Fish Eaters) using the Gospel of John 7:37-39 (Rivers of Living Water, Bible Gateway). Pentecost Sunday: Year C, 8 June 2025, Gospel John 14:8-17, 25-27 (Jesus, Way to the Father, Promise of Holy Spirit, Bible Gateway). Preferred, Cantata BWV 74 (see above, Pentecost Sunday (Bach Single Lectionary).
Year A, 24 May 2026, Gospel John 20:19-23 (Jesus appears to His Disciples/Upper Room, Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata BWV 34 (see above, Pentecost Sunday (Bach Single Lectionary), alternate Cantata BWV 59 (see above, Pentecost Sunday/Easter season (Bach Single Lectionary).
Year B, 16 May 2027, Gospel John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 (Counselor comes, work of Spirit, Bible Gateway), preferred Motet BWV 226 ("Der Geist hilft unsrer Schwachheit auf," Carus-Verlag, BCW: scroll down to "Discussions in the Week of October 3, 2016 (4th round)", alternate Cantata BWV 34 (see above, Pentecost Sunday (Bach Single Lectionary).
Pentecost Evening or Pentecost Monday Ordinary Time II (Which Bach Cantata: Whit Monday, BCW), Gospel John 3:16-24 (How Judgment works, Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata BWV 174 ("Ich liebe den Höchsten von ganzem Gemüte," 6 June 1729, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois), alternate Cantata BWV 68 ("Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt," 21 May 1725, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
Pentecost Tuesday Ordinary Time II (Which Bach Cantata: Whit Tuesday, BCW, Gospel John 10:1-10 (Jesus Good Shepherd, Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata BWV 175 ("Er rufet seinen Schafen mit Namen," Pentecost Tuesday, 22 May 1725, Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
Trinitatisfest/First Sunday after Pentecost (Bach Single Lectionary)
For the feast of Trinity Sunday (Which Bach Cantata: Trinitatis, BCW), Bach composed three works (BWV 165, BWV 176, BWV 129) as well as two others that did double duty (BWV 194, BWV 192). First was BWV 165, conceived in Weimar ("O heilges Geist- und Wasserbad," 16 June 1715 Weimar, repeat 4 June 1724 Leipzig; Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois), then BWV 176 ("Er ist ein trotzig und verzagt Ding," 27 May 1725 Leipzig; Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois), then BWV 129 ("Gelobet sei der Herr, mein Gott," 8 June 1727 Leipzig; Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois). Doing double duty was: BWV 194.2, "Höchsterwünschtes Freudenfest," originally conceived as an organ dedication at Störmthal 2 November 1723, then BWV 194.3 for Trinitatisfest 4 June 1724 Leipzig; Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
Trinitatisfest/First Sunday after Pentecost (3-Year Revised Common Lectionary)
The current 3-Year Revised Common Lectionary offers various church works for Trinitatisfest as well as related can: Year C, 15 June 2025, Gospel John 16:12-15 (Spirit guides in truth, Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata BWV 165 (see above, Trinitatisfest/First Sunday after Pentecost (Bach Single Lectionary), alternate Cantata BWV 108 (Cantate, 29 April 1725, "Es ist euch gut, daß ich hingehe," Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois). Year A, 31 May 2026, Gospel Matthew 28:16-20 (Commissioning Disciples, Bible Gatewy), preferred Cantata BWV 129 (see above, Trinitatisfest/First Sunday after Pentecost (Bach Single Lectionary), alternate Cantata BWV 176 (see above, Trinitatisfest/First Sunday after Pentecost (Bach Single Lectionary). Year B, 23 May 2027, Gospel John 3:1-17 (Nicodemus visits Jesus, Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata BWV 174 (6 June 1729 Pentecost Monday, "Ich liebe den Höchsten von ganzem Gemüte," Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois), alternate Cantata BWV 68, 21 May 1725, Pentecost Monday, "Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt," Carus-Media, IOPN Library Illinois).
Special Occasions: Saints Days, Marian Feasts
Special de tempore Single-Day Events (BCW: scroll down to "Special de tempore Single-Day Events") involve special occasions in the church year in the current 3-year Revised Common Lectionary in Bach Throughout the Year, says John S. Setterlund. These observe major saints days early in the year with Apostle Andrew, November 30; Apostle Thomas, December 21; St. Stephen, Martyr, December 26; and John, Apostle, Evangelist, December 27 (details, BCW). For the end of de tempore there are special saints days and Marian feasts with appropriate cantatas: Timothy, Pastor, Confessor, January 24 (Chorale Cantata BWV 6, Easter Monday 2 April 1725, BCW); Titus, Pastor, Confessor, January 26 (Cantata BWV 44, Exaudi 21 May 1724, BCW); Mathias, Apostle, February 24 (POV Chorale Cantata BWV 177, 4th Sunday after Trinity 6 July 1732, BCW ; Mark, Evangelist, April 25 (Cantata BWV 37, Ascension 18 May 1724, BCW; Philip & James, Apostles, May 1 (Cantata BWV 74, Pentecost Sunday 20 May 1725, BCW). Marian feasts involve Purification of Mary/ Presentation of Our Lord, February 2, Gospel Luke 2:22-40 (Jesus presented in the Temple, Bible Gateway), preferred, Motet BWV 1165=Anh 159, BCW Annunciation of Our Lord, March 25, Gospel Luke 1:26-38 (Birth f Jesus foretold, Bible Gateway), preferred, Cantata BWV 147 (Marian feast of Visitation, 2 July 1723), BCW); Visitation (31 May 2025 current lectionary, Gospel Luke 1:39-57, Mary's Magnificat, Bible Gateway), preferred Cantata BWV 10, 2 July 1724, Gospel Luke 1:39-57), alternate, BWV 243.2, BCW), or Visitation, 2 July 2025 (Bach lectionary).
ENDNOTES
1 John S. Setterlund, Bach Through the Year: The Church Music of Johann Sebastian Bach and the Revised Common Lectionary, 2nd ed. (Minneapolis MN: Lutheran University Press, 2013: 65f). |
|
To Come: Trinitatis Ordinary Time II and special occasions. |
| |
|
|
