Re: Ecclesiastical year & readings
Greetings,
This thread has reminded me of some questions (and assumptions) I have had regarding the Biblical scriptural passages that may have inspired Bach while composing his cantatas, especially in his first several years in Leipzig.
First, as I understand it, upon taking the position of Kantor in Leipzig, Bach chose to compose an original cantata for each Sunday of the church year. This, I understand, was a challenge he set for himself, and not a condition for his employment. Have I got that right?
Second, I learned (heard) long ago that Bach¡¯s Leipzig cantatas roughly fall into annual groupings ¡ª chorale cantatas his first year, solo-ish cantatas his second year, something else his third year?, and something other else the fourth year? Is that roughly correct?
¡ª
Pericopes and lectionaries: in the Lutheran church, each Sunday (and each major festival) has prescribed readings from the Bible, including a Gospel reading (from Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John), an epistle (from some other book of the New Testament), an Old Testament reading (related to the Gospel by analogy?), and an appointed Psalm. These Biblical passages are called pericopes (excerpts from scripture), and the combined set of pericopes throughout the year are established in a lectionary. (As I understand it, lectionaries have appointed readings for every day of the year, but my focus here is on the Sunday assigned readings, as they relate to Bach¡¯s cantata compositions). Do I have this (essentially) right?
¡ª
I think there are three lectionaries currently in common use in the Lutheran Church. Having three lectionaries allows for more (unique) readings from scripture, over the course of three years, before revisiting the same scripture for the appointed readings on a given Sunday. But (I think I remember from reading somewhere) in Bach¡¯s time, say in Leipzig in the 1720¡¯s, there was only lectionary, and the pericopes would have repeated on annually.?
¡ª
Several questions come to mind:
1) Was there only one lectionary in use during Bach¡¯s tenure in Leipzig, or was there more than one annual lectionary?
2) Are the pericopes for a given Sunday a (reliable?) predictor for the libretto and message for Bach¡¯s cantata on that Sunday? If so, is this always, usually, often, sometimes, or rarely the case?
3) Is there any evidence that Bach coordinated his cantata composition for a given Sunday with the pastor (and his anticipated sermon) for that Sunday?
¡ª
Some musings:
If there was only one lectionary, and Bach used the pericopes as texts and inspirations for his cantatas, this might help explain his Leipzig cantatas being roughly classifiable as ¡°chorale¡±, ¡°solo¡±, and ¡°¡¡± on annual basis. (It seems to me that that could be another challenge that Bach might have set for himself, and entirely in character ¡ª i.e., something like Bach saying ¡°hmm, compose a chorale cantata for the pericopes this year, and then solo cantatas for the (same?) pericopes in the next year, etc.).
And where there are missing cantatas in an annual series, would the pericopes for the day be a clue for what Bach might have composed?
¡ª
My dad was a Lutheran pastor (passed in 2004, RIP), and these are the kind of questions I would have loved to have talked with him about. It would have been great fun, for each cantata, to consider if and how it relates to the pericope of the day.
Sure, I could look into this myself, (and have, on an individual basis, for the cantatas I¡¯ve had the privilege and pleasure to conduct), but the folks on this list this list are smart, engaged, and knowledgeable individuals, and I¡¯m sure that this group¡¯s insights into how lectionary pericopes may have inspired Bach¡¯s cantata compositions will be very interesting.
Greetings to you all.
Cheers,
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On Feb 20, 2024, at 9:46 AM, Johan van Veen via groups.io <jvveen@...> wrote:
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That seems a good source. That should also include the readings of those days for which Bach did not write a cantata.
Many thanks. I'm going to look at that.
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Regards,
?
Op 20-02-2024 18:52 CET schreef Daniel R. Melamed <dan@...>:
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It occurs to me to add that if you would like to see this in the publication from which the Leipzig churches worked, online you can view a copy of the?Vollst?ndiges Kirchen-Buch in an edition published in the 1740s in that city. It contains, among other things, the complete gospel and epistle texts for each day; also provided are collects (group prayers) for each occasion, the harmonized passion narrative, Josephus's description of the destruction of Jerusalem read each year on the 10th Sunday after Trinity, creeds, a catechism, and so on.
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Re: Ecclesiastical year & readings
That seems a good source. That should also include the readings of those days for which Bach did not write a cantata.
Many thanks. I'm going to look at that.
?
Regards,
?
Op 20-02-2024 18:52 CET schreef Daniel R. Melamed <dan@...>:
?
?
It occurs to me to add that if you would like to see this in the publication from which the Leipzig churches worked, online you can view a copy of the?Vollst?ndiges Kirchen-Buch in an edition published in the 1740s in that city. It contains, among other things, the complete gospel and epistle texts for each day; also provided are collects (group prayers) for each occasion, the harmonized passion narrative, Josephus's description of the destruction of Jerusalem read each year on the 10th Sunday after Trinity, creeds, a catechism, and so on.
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Re: Ecclesiastical year & readings
It occurs to me to add that if you would like to see this in the publication from which the Leipzig churches worked, online you can view a copy of the?Vollst?ndiges Kirchen-Buch in an edition published in the 1740s in that city. It contains, among other things, the complete gospel and epistle texts for each day; also provided are collects (group prayers) for each occasion, the harmonized passion narrative, Josephus's description of the destruction of Jerusalem read each year on the 10th Sunday after Trinity, creeds, a catechism, and so on.
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Re: Ecclesiastical year & readings
A couple of thoughts from a non-expert here. I have the impression that local Lutheran churches did things independently so presume you would need a Leipzig church book for the 18th century. As an ex-Catholic I¡¯m aware Luther translated much from the Catholic services of his time. So I found myself wondering if looking at an old (pre-1970) MIssale Romanum might offer help in terms of biblical readings. The Catholic missal was prepared after the Council of Trent and remained in use for four centuries, across the entire Church. I have no idea whether the Lutheran churches revised the biblical readings they used; if they did, back to square one. But presumably you easily see if there were a match between the readings and cantatas?
Regards,
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On 20 Feb 2024, at 14:16, Johan van Veen via groups.io <jvveen@...> wrote:
Dear Aryeh,
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Thanks for the link. These data are useful, but they don't offer what I am looking for. For instance, Sunday Judica: Bach did not write any cantata for it, and that means that there is no information about the readings at that Sunday. And exactly that is what I would like to know about.
?
Regards,
?
Op 20-02-2024 14:32 CET schreef Aryeh Oron <oron-a@...>:
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Dear Johan van Veen,
You can find all the Events and Holidays in the LCY during Bach's lifetime on the BCW in the page:
listed by year and by event.
Each Event page includes links to the Readings in German with English translation.
Sincerely,
Aryeh Oron
Webmaster of Bach Cantatas Website (BCW)
Moderator of Bach Mailing List (BML)
/g/Bach
On 20/02/2024 11:30, Johan van Veen via groups.io wrote:
I would like to know if there is a list of the Sun- and feastdays of the ecclesiastical year in Lutheran Germany in the time of Bach and Telemann, with an indication of the readings of that particular day. Many can be found in Alfred D¨¹rr's book on Bach's cantatas, but Bach did not compose a cantata for each Sunday, especially during Lent, as on some Sundays there was no figural music. I am preparing a review of a recording of cantatas by Telemann, who did compose a cantata for each Sunday and feastday. I am interested in the readings on those days in order to see what the connection between them and the respective librettos is.
?
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Re: Ecclesiastical year & readings
Dear Aryeh,
?
Thanks for the link. These data are useful, but they don't offer what I am looking for. For instance, Sunday Judica: Bach did not write any cantata for it, and that means that there is no information about the readings at that Sunday. And exactly that is what I would like to know about.
?
Regards,
?
Op 20-02-2024 14:32 CET schreef Aryeh Oron <oron-a@...>:
?
?
Dear Johan van Veen,
You can find all the Events and Holidays in the LCY during Bach's lifetime on the BCW in the page:
listed by year and by event.
Each Event page includes links to the Readings in German with English translation.
Sincerely,
Aryeh Oron
Webmaster of Bach Cantatas Website (BCW)
Moderator of Bach Mailing List (BML)
/g/Bach
On 20/02/2024 11:30, Johan van Veen via groups.io wrote:
I would like to know if there is a list of the Sun- and feastdays of the ecclesiastical year in Lutheran Germany in the time of Bach and Telemann, with an indication of the readings of that particular day. Many can be found in Alfred D¨¹rr's book on Bach's cantatas, but Bach did not compose a cantata for each Sunday, especially during Lent, as on some Sundays there was no figural music. I am preparing a review of a recording of cantatas by Telemann, who did compose a cantata for each Sunday and feastday. I am interested in the readings on those days in order to see what the connection between them and the respective librettos is.
?
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Re: Ecclesiastical year & readings
And (to plug a potentially useful book), in Melamed and Marissen,?An Introduction to Bach Studies (Oxford University Press).
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Re: Ecclesiastical year & readings
Dear Johan van Veen,
You can find all the Events and Holidays in the LCY during Bach's
lifetime on the BCW in the page:
listed by year and by event.
Each Event page includes links to the Readings in German with
English translation.
Sincerely,
Aryeh Oron
Webmaster of Bach Cantatas Website (BCW)
Moderator of Bach Mailing List (BML)
/g/Bach
On 20/02/2024 11:30, Johan van Veen via
groups.io wrote:
I would like to know if there is a
list of the Sun- and feastdays of the ecclesiastical year in
Lutheran Germany in the time of Bach and Telemann, with an
indication of the readings of that particular day. Many can be
found in Alfred D¨¹rr's book on Bach's cantatas, but Bach did not
compose a cantata for each Sunday, especially during Lent, as on
some Sundays there was no figural music. I am preparing a review
of a recording of cantatas by Telemann, who did compose a
cantata for each Sunday and feastday. I am interested in the
readings on those days in order to see what the connection
between them and the respective librettos is.
|
Re: Ecclesiastical year & readings
Both Spitta? and particularly Charles Sanford Terry cover the Leipzig Liturgy, the latter creating meticulous verification?notes ( by chance I saw them yesterday in the Royal?College of Music in London).?
Another good source is Gunther Stiller ¡®s ¡° Liturgical Life in Leipzig¡± edited by Robin Leaver.
LiturgicalPractice and hymnody vary by town and city, and even within.?The orphanage in Leipzig I read used the Halle hymnbook, being pietist.
On Tuesday, February 20, 2024, 9:30 am, Johan van Veen via groups.io <jvveen@...> wrote:
I would like to know if there is a list of the Sun- and feastdays of the ecclesiastical year in Lutheran Germany in the time of Bach and Telemann, with an indication of the readings of that particular day. Many can be found in Alfred D¨¹rr's book on Bach's cantatas, but Bach did not compose a cantata for each Sunday, especially during Lent, as on some Sundays there was no figural music. I am preparing a review of a recording of cantatas by Telemann, who did compose a cantata for each Sunday and feastday. I am interested in the readings on those days in order to see what the connection between them and the respective librettos is.
---
Johan van Veen
e-mail: jvveen@...
website:
twitter:
weblogs:
|
Ecclesiastical year & readings
I would like to know if there is a list of the Sun- and feastdays of the ecclesiastical year in Lutheran Germany in the time of Bach and Telemann, with an indication of the readings of that particular day. Many can be found in Alfred D¨¹rr's book on Bach's cantatas, but Bach did not compose a cantata for each Sunday, especially during Lent, as on some Sundays there was no figural music. I am preparing a review of a recording of cantatas by Telemann, who did compose a cantata for each Sunday and feastday. I am interested in the readings on those days in order to see what the connection between them and the respective librettos is.
---
Johan van Veen
e-mail: jvveen@...
website:
twitter:
weblogs:
|
Re: CD releases February 2024
Here is a product description of Bach (JS): Passionsoratorium (BWV Anh 169) (ed. A Grychtolik)
Soloists, IL Gardellino Orchestra & Choir/Alexander Grychtolik
Passacaille - PAS1152; . ?See also my "The Genesis of Bach's `Great Passion ?: 1724-29,"?.
BWV3: ?718 says that Picander used his draft libretto of BWV Anh. 169 in 1727 for six movements in BWV 244.1, for the 1729 version. ?I looked forward to Johann van Veen's review on-line here. ?BCW Details,?, original German text, ; English translation, hopefully from Z. Philip Ambrose,
.
pre-order Amazon,?.
An early draft version of BWV 245 is the?1717-03-26 Fr - Lost Passion (not survived, Gotha, : ?"Bach Connection"; Weimar-Gotta Passion,?. ?The arias added in the 1725 version, BWV 245.2 (BWV 3: 333ff, are now attributed to Christoph Birkmann ().
-- William Hoffman
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CD releases February 2024
http://www.musica-dei-donum.org/cd_releases.html
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Johan van Veen
e-mail: jvveen@...
website:
twitter:
weblogs:
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musica Dei donum (Feb 19, 2023)
CD reviews:
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Bazylik: "Opera omnia"
Ensemble Jerycho/Bartosz Izbicki
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Brescianello: "Vol. 2: Unlocked - Opus 1: Libro Secondo, Orchestral Suite in A"
La Serenissima/Adrian Chandler
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Legrenzi:
- Harmonia d'affetti devoti, Op. 3
Nova Ars Cantandi/Giovanni Acciai
- "Mottetti"
Concerto Italiano/Rinaldo Alessandrini
Weblog: The keyboard in Central Europe, 1750-1830
(Menno van Delft & Artem Belogurov, Fl¨®ra F¨¢bri, Sayuri Nagoya, Claus-Eduard Hecker)
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see: http://www.musica-dei-donum.org
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Johan van Veen
e-mail: jvveen@...
website:
twitter:
weblogs:
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New at BachCantataTexts.org: "Christe, du Lamm Gottes" BWV 233.1 (233a)
We are pleased to add a new text?and translation:
?
?is?a freely available source for new historically-informed English translations of J. S. Bach's vocal works, prepared and annotated by Michael Marissen (Swarthmore College, emeritus) and Daniel R. Melamed (Indiana University/Bloomington Bach Cantata Project).
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musica Dei donum (Feb 12, 2023)
CD reviews:
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F Couperin: Les Concerts Royaux
Les Folies Fran?oises/Patrick Coh?n-Akenine
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"Evening Song"
Soloists, Ensemble Morgaine
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"H¨¦ro?nes - Cantates fran?aises"
Victoire Bunel, Anna Reinhold, Guilhem Worms, Ensemble Il Caravaggio/Camille Delaforge
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Monte (de): "Madrigali spirituali"
Cappella Mariana/Vojtech Semer¨¢d
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Selle: Concertuum Latino Sacrorum, Liber Primus
Soloists, G?ttinger Barockorchester/Antonius Adamske
see: http://www.musica-dei-donum.org
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Johan van Veen
e-mail: jvveen@...
website:
twitter:
weblogs:
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New at BachCantataTexts.org: Four versions of the St. John Passion BWV 245
We are pleased to add texts and translations of four versions of J. S. Bach's St. John Passion BWV 245:
BWV 245.1 (version I, 1724)
BWV 245.2 (version II, 1725)
BWV 245.5 (version IV, 1749)
BWV 245.4 (version V, 1739¨C1749, & Modern Hybrid)
Each version also includes a link to a modern alternative text for performers who wish to avoid potentially offensive language. Special thanks to Elizabeth Hile for meticulous editing and coding.
is a freely available source for new historically-informed English translations of J. S. Bach's vocal works, prepared and annotated by Michael Marissen (Swarthmore College, emeritus) and Daniel R. Melamed (Indiana University/Bloomington Bach Cantata Project).
Please share this message with colleagues, friends, and audiences. There is a sign-up page linked from the home page for an e-mail announcement list.
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musica Dei donum (Feb 5, 2023)
CD reviews:
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- "Hidden Treasures - Seventeenth-Century Music of Habsburg and Bohemia"
?Sacabuche!/Linda Pearse
- "Music for St Mark's"
Capricornus Ensemble Stuttgart/Henning Wiegr?be
- "Stadtpfeifer, Piffari - Musique ¨¤ cinq souffleurs"
Capella Itineris
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"Kagami - Mirror"
Kaori Uemura, Ricardo Rodr¨ªguez Miranda, Aline Zylberajch
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"Leipzig 1723"
?lbgut; Capella Jenensis
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"Salve Susato - Music Composed or Printed by Tielman Susato"
Utopia Ensemble
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Tuma: Dixit Dominus & Motets
Andreas Scholl, Czech Ensemble Baroque/Roman V¨¢lek
see: http://www.musica-dei-donum.org
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Johan van Veen
e-mail: jvveen@...
website:
twitter:
weblogs:
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New at BachCantataTexts.org: "Meine Seel erhebt den Herren" BWV 10
We are pleased to add a new text and translation: "Meine Seel erhebt den Herren" BWV 10
BachCantataTexts.org is a freely available source for new historically-informed English translations of J. S. Bach's vocal works, prepared and annotated by Michael Marissen (Swarthmore College, emeritus) and Daniel R. Melamed (Indiana University/Bloomington Bach Cantata Project).
Please share this message with colleagues, friends, and audiences.
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musica Dei donum (Jan 29, 2023)
CD reviews:
?
Byrd:
- "Mass for five voices"
The Gesualdo Six/Owain Park
- Mass for four voices, motets and psalms
Stile Antico
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Charpentier: Te Deum
Soloists, La Chapelle Royale/Valentin Tournet
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"An Englishman abroad - Nicola Matteis the Younger and the English style in 18th Century Europe"
La Serenissima/Adrian Chandler
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"Passages - German Ritual Music 1600-1800"
InAlto/Lambert Colson
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Vivaldi: "La Stravaganza Op. 4 (1716) - Concerto transcriptions for Organ"
Luca Scandali, organ
see: http://www.musica-dei-donum.org
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Johan van Veen
e-mail: jvveen@...
website:
twitter:
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New from the Bloomington Bach Cantata Project: "Ein ungef?rbt Gem¨¹te" BWV 24
We are pleased to present a performance of J. S. Bach's "Ein ungef?rbt Gem¨¹te" BWV 24 directed by Kathryn Davidson. Links to the program and to an annotated translation of the text are in the notes below the YouTube video.
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Donor support makes the work of the Bloomington Bach Cantata Project possible. Please consider a donation to our 2023-24 season, our 14th¡ªwe could not do this without the generous support of our contributors. Information on supporting our work is on our Facebook page, in the notes below the video, and in the program. We will be grateful for your contribution.
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musica Dei donum (Jan 22, 2023)
CD reviews:
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- WF Bach, Goldberg: "Trio Sonatas"
- "Sonate a quattro"
Ensemble Diderot
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Biber: Sonatae Tam Aris, quam Aulis servientes
Harmonie Universelle/Florian Deuter, M¨®nica Waisman
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"Choral Cantatas around 1700 - From Buxtehude to JS Bach"
Soloists, L'arpa festante/Christoph Hesse
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De Hita: "Obra vocal en lat¨ªn"
La Grande Chapelle/Albert Recasens
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"Under der Linden - Ges?nge der Minnes?nger"
Ensemble C¨¦ladon/Paulin B¨¹ndgen
see: http://www.musica-dei-donum.org
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Johan van Veen
e-mail: jvveen@...
website:
twitter:
weblogs:
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Bruce S
William Hoffman