The de tempore first half of the church year on the life and ministry of Jesus Christ begins with the First Sunday in Advent which, in Bach's time in Leipzig, was a single-day feast preparing for? the Christmas Season.? Complementing this one-year lectionary in Bach's time is John S. Setterlund's Bach Through the Year: The Church Music of Johann Sebastian Bach and the Revised Common Lectionary.1 "Bach Through the Year has reassigned the cantatas, as well as the motets, passions, and oratorios, to the Sundays and festivals with whose current readings and themes they most closely correspond.? Besides the three church-year cantata cycles of musical sermons, there are two other cycles of church pieces:? a Bach Christological Cycle that addresses the biblical/theological import of works for the significant feast days of Jesus Christ during de tempore time, with complementary, systematic studies of his related chorale settings and Latin Church music, as well as special, non-cyclic sacred music of joy and sorrow composed throughout most of his life that could constitute a fifth cycle of ¡°well-regulated church music (source, ).
De Tempore Special Services
The initial Christmas season involves various feast days of the 12 days of Christmas embracing six special occasions in Bach's Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, from the three days of Christmas, the Annunciation to the shepherds, the Nativity, and the adorartion of the shepherds, to the New Year's Circumcision and Naming of Jesus, the Sunday after New Year's with the approach of the Three Kings and the feast of Epiphany on the fixed day of January 6.? There follows the Sundays after the Epiphany and the pre-Lenten "gesimae" Sundays (see ) to the Holy Week observances of palm Sunday, the Good Friday Passion, the Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday Resurrection.? This de tempore Proper Time concludes with the three-day Pentecost Feast (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday), and the closing Trinity Sunday which commences Trinity Time, the omnes tempore Ordinary Time of the second half of the church year (see the Bach Mailing List discussions of Trinity Time:? Aug 6, 2024: Trinity Time Lectionary (); Sep 3, 2024: Leipzig Church-Year Cantata Cycles: Bach's Grand Design (); Sep 8, 2024: Bach's Chorales: Bibliographical Articles (); Sep 30, 2024: Chorale Cantata Cycle: Middle Trinity Time (); Nov 5, 2024: Diverse Late Trinity Time Cantatas (); and the 3-Year Lectionary Dec 9+12+19, 2024: Special Occasions Music, Hymnal Lectionaries ().
3-Year Common Lectionary, Bach's Works
The 3-year Revised Common Lectionary shows:? 1st Sunday of Advent is the beginning of the de tempore which is found currently in Year C, emphasizing the Gospel of Luke, 1 December 2024, Luke 21:25-36 (Coming of Son of Man, ), preferred Cantata 70(a).1 (orig. Advent 2 1716, ; Cantata 70.2 (Trinity 26 1723, , , ), alternate Cantata 61 (, ); Year A, emphasizing the Gospel of Matthew, 30 November 2025, Matthew 24:36-44 (Necessity for Watchfulness, ), preferred Cantata 62 (, , alternate Cantata 127 (, ); Year B, emphasizing Gospel of Mark, 29 November 2026, Mark 13:24-37 (Coming of Son of Man, Lesson of Fig Tree, Necessity for Watchfulness), preferred Cantata 61 (see Year C above, alternate), alternate Cantata 70 (? Bach's one-year lectionary, Gospel Matthew 21:1-11 (Jesus''entry into Jerusalem, .), preferred Cantata 61 (see above, Year C alternate).? 2nd Sunday of Advent:? currently Year C, Gospel of Luke, 8 December 2024, Luke 3:1-6 (Proclamation of John the Baptist, ), preferred Cantata 132 (original, Advent 4 2015, , , ), alternate Cantata 62 (see Year A above); Year A, Gospel of Matthew, 7 December 2025, Matthew 3:1-12 (Proclamation of John the Baptist, ), preferred Cantata 90 (, ), alternate Cantata 30.2 (original, Feast of John the Baptist 1738, , ); Year B, Gospel of Mark, 6 December 2026, Mark 1:1-8 (Proclamation of John the Baptist, ), preferred Cantata 30.2/1 (see Year A above), alternate Cantata 132 (see above, Year C); Bach's one-year lectionary, Gospel Luke 21:25-36 (Son of Man coming, fig tree parable, ), preferred Cantata 70 (see above, Advent 1, Year C preferred).? 3rd Sunday of Advent, currently Year C, Gospel of Luke, 8 December 2024, Luke 3:1-6 (Proclamation of John the Baptist, ), preferred Cantata 136 (, ), alternate Cantata 168 (, ); Year A, Gospel of Matthew, 14 December 2025, Matthew 11:2-11 (Messengers from John the Baptist, Jesus Praises John the Baptist, ), preferred Cantata 186.1(a) (original Advent 3 reconstruction, , ; 186(.2), Trinity 7 1723, ), alternate Cantata 152 (Sunday after Christmas 1714, , ); Year B, usually Gospel of Mark, 13 December 2026, John 1:6-8, 19-28 (Testimony of John the Baptist, ), preferred Cantata 30.2/2 (see above, 2nd Sunday of Advent Year A alternate Cantata 30.2), alternate Cantata 167 (Feast of John the Baptist 1723, , ); Bach's one-year lectionary, Gospel Matthew 11:2-15 (John the Baptist, ).? 4th Sunday of Advent:? currently Year C, Gospel of Luke, 22 December 2024, Luke 1:39-55 (Mary's Magnificat, ), preferred BWV 243.1, Magnificat anima mea (, ), alternative BWV 10, German Magnificat (, ); Year A, Gospel of Matthew, 21 December 2025, Matthew (Birth of Jesus, Messiah, ), preferred Cantata 36.4 (, ), alternate Cantata 40 (, ); Year B, usually Gospel of Mark, 20 December 2026, Luke 1:26-38 (Birth of Jesus Foretold, ), preferred Cantata 1 (Annunciation 1725, , ), alternate Cantata 147(a).1 (Advent 4 1716,? , ); Bach's one-year lectionary, Gospel John 1:6-8, 19-28 (John the Baptist, ), preferred Cantata 186 (see Above, Advent 3, Year A).
Christmas Festival Special Occasions
The three-day Christmas Festival on 25 December actually begins earlier with three special occasions, says Setterlund (Ibid.;? 148), citing the Lutheran Service Book (2006, LCMS, Years ABC & 1-Year Lectionary):? Nativity of Our Lord, Christmas Eve, 24 December 2024, Gospel Matthew 1:18-25 (Birth of Jesus, Messiah, ), preferred Cantatas 40, 36, 121, 36; Christmas Midnight, 25 December 2024, Gospel Luke 2:1-14 (Birth of Jesus, ), preferred Cantatas 110, 121, 248/1, 248/1; Christmas Dawn, 25 December 2024, Luke 2:15-20 (Shepherds' Adoration, ):? Cantatas 91, 151, 248/2, 248/2.? Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELCA) and Lutheran Service Book (both published in 2006) lists the 3 Propers of the Nativity of Our Lord:? Proper i, Christmas Eve, 24 December 2024:? Year C, Gospel Luke 2:1-14 (Birth of Jesus, see above), preferred Cantata 248/1 (, ), alternate Cantata 151 (3rd Day of Christmas, 27 December 2025, , ); Year A, Gospel Luke 2:1-20 (Birth of Jesus, ), preferred chorale Cantata 110 (1st Christmas Day 1725, , ), alternate Cantata 248/1 (Birth of Jesus, see above); Year B, Gospel Luke 2:1-14 (Birth of Jesus, see above), preferred Cantata 121 (2nd Christmas Day 1724, , ), alternate Cantata 91 (1st Christmas Day 1724, , ).? Proper ii, Christmas Dawn, 25 December, Year C, Gospel Luke 2:8-20 (Birth of Jesus, see above), preferred Cantata 248/2 (2nd Christmas Day, 26 December 1734, , ), alternate Cantata 121 (see above, 2nd Christmas Day 1724);? Year A, 25 December, Gospel? Luke 2:8-20 (Shepherds' Adoration, 0), preferred Cantata 91 (see above, 1st Christmas Day 1724), alternate, Cantata 248/2 (Und es waren Hirten, 2nd Christmas Day, 26 December 1734, , ); Year B, usually Mark Gospel, 25 December 2026, Luke 2:8-20 (see above, Shepherds Adoration), preferred Cantata 151 (see above, Proper 1, Year C, 3rd day of Christmas), alternate Cantata 133 (3d Day of Christmas, 1724, , ),? Proper iii, Christmas Day, 25 December:? Year C, preferred Gospel Luke, 25 December 2024, Gospel John 1:1-14 (Word Became Flesh, ), preferred Cantata 248/3 (3rd Christmas Day 1734, , ), alternate Cantata 63 (Christmas Day 1714, 1723, , ); Year A, usually Luke Gospel, 25 December 2025, Gospel John 1:1-14 (Word Became Flesh, above Year C), preferred Cantata 133 (3rd Day of Christmas 1724, see above Proper ii, Christmas Dawn, Year B), alternate Cantata 248/3 (see Year C above); Year B, 25 December 2026, John 1:1-14 (Word Became Flesh, see Year C above), preferred Cantata 63 (see alternate Cantata 63 at Year C above), alternate Cantata 110 (see Proper I, Christmas Eve, Year A above).? 2nd Day of Christmas (), 26 December 2024, Gospel Luke 2:8-14 (Annunciation to Shepherds, ), preferred Cantatas 40 (1723, , ), 121 (1724, , ), 248/2 (1734, Und es waren hirten); alternate St. Stephen, Deacon & Martyr, 26 December 1725, Gospel Acts 6:8-7:2a, 51-60 (Choosing of 7, Stephen Stoned), preferred Cantata 57 (, ), alternate Cantata 46 (Destruction of Jerusalem Temple, Luke 19:41-48 (Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem).? 3rd Day of Christmas ():? Gospel John 1:1-14 (In Beginning, John's Day ), 27 December 2024, Gospel John 1:1-14 (Prologue:? Word Became Flesh, John Evangelist Day ), preferred Cantata 64 (27 December 1723, , ), alternate chorale Cantata 133 (27 December 1724, see above, Proper ii, Christmas Dawn, Year B), Cantata 151 (27 December 1725, , ); alternate Gospel Luke 2:15-20 (Adoration of Shepherds, ), preferred Cantata 248/3 (27 December 1734, ,
).
1st Sunday after Christmas:? Year C, 29 December 2024, Gospel Luke 2:41-52 (Jesus teaches in Temple, ),?preferred Cantata 152 (, ).? Year A, 28 December 2025, Gospel Matthew 2: 13-23 (Escape to Egypt, Massacre of Infants, ), preferred Cantata 122 (31 December 1724, , ).? Year B, 27 December 2026, Luke 2:22-40 (Jesus & Simeon, ), preferred Cantata 28.2? (, ).? Bach's one-year lectionary, Gospel Luke 2:22-40 (Jesus presented in Temple, ).? Circumcision & Name of Jesus:? Year C,? 1 January 2025, Gospel Luke 2:15-21 (Circumcision and Naming of Jesus, ), preferred Cantata 248/4 (, ), alternate Cantata 143 (, ); five cantatas are listed for New Year's Day (; BWV 143 II (before 1713), 190.1 (1724), 41 (1725), 16 (1726), 171 (1729); ), two others are appropriate:? BWV 248/4, "Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben," 1 January 1735; also are C?then profane vocal serenades for New Year's:? BWV 134a, "Die Zeit, die Tag und Jahre macht" (1719), BWV 1150=Anh. 197, incipit "Ihr wallen den Wolken," 1717-1723; BWV 1151=Anh 6, "Dich loben die lieblichen Strahlen der Sonne" (1720); BWV 184a, no text, only parts (1721); no sources (1722, Bach paid Carmina printing); BWV 1152=Anh. 8, title unknown (1723); J. F. Fasch:? Cantata "Gehet zu seinen Thoren ein," FWV D:G 1, ?1729-35), BWV 194a(1), H?chsterw¨¹nschtes Freudenfest (1717-23).? Year A, 1 January 2026, Gospel Luke 2;15-21 (Shepherds' Annunciation, ), preferred Cantata? 28 (, ), alternate BWV 248/4 (see above, Year C).? Year B, Gospel Luke 2:15-21 (Shepherds' Annunciation), preferred Cantata 190.1 (, ), alternate cantata 171 (, ).
2nd Sunday after Christmas (Sunday after New Year):? Year C, 5 January 2025, John 1:1-18 (Word became flesh, ), preferred Cantata 171 (see above Name of Jesus, Year B), alternate Cantata 190 (see above, Name of Jesus, Year B).? Year A, 4 January 2026, Gospel John 1:1-18 (see above, Year C), preferred Cantata 41 (, ), alternate Cantata 173.2 (, ).? Year B, 3 January 2027, John 1:1-18 (see above, Year A & C), preferred chorale Cantata 122 (, ), alternate Cantata 40 (Christmas Day 2 1723, Adoration of Shepherds, , ).? Bach's one-year lectionary, Gospel Matthew 2:13-23 (Escape to Egypt, Massacre of Infants, Return; https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%202%3A13-23&version=RSV
Epiphany of Our Lord:? Year C, 6 January 2025, Gospel Matthew 2:1-12 (Visit of Wise Men, ), preferred Cantatas 248/5, Ehre sei dir Gott gesungen (:? scroll down to "Discussions in the Week of January 14, 2018 (4th round),"? , ; 248/6, Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben (:? scroll down to "," ), alternate Cantata 16 (, ), Year A, 6 January 2026, Gospel Matthew 2:1-12 (Visit of Wise Men, ), preferred Cantata 65 (, ), alternate Cantatas 248/5 & 6 (see above, ).? Year B, 6 January 2027, Gospel Matthew 2:1-12 (Visit of Wise Men, ), preferred Cantata 16 (see above, Year C alternate Cantata 16.? Bach's one-year lectionary, Matthew 2:1-12 (Visit of Wise Men, see above, Year C).? Besides Cantatas BWV 248/5 & 6, and 65, the BCW in the Bach 1726 3rd cantata cycle performing calendar (), he presented a mini-series of Darmstadt poet Georg Christian Lehms cantatas () during January possibly using Telemann's setting of Lehms, "Ich freue mich im Herren," TWV 1:826 (), followed in February by a cantata mini-series of cousin Johann Ludwig Bach for later epiphany and pre-Lenten gesimae Sundays (see ).? Omitted from the Lutheran Church Year Bach Epiphany dates are BWV 217, "Gedenke, Herr, wie es uns gehet," for the 1st Sunday after Epiphany, after 1725, composer unknown (, possibly attributed to Bach student Johann Christoph Altnikol, 0.? During this period in 1726, Bach's compositional activities were confined to the first version of the St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244.1, which Bach premiered in 1727, possibly for single ensemble.
Special de tempore Single-Day Events
Special single-day festive events during early de tempore:? St. Andrew, Apostle, 30 November 1724, Gospel John 1:35-42 (First Disciples of Jesus, ), preferred Cantata 9 (, ); St. Stephen, Martyr, 26 December 1725, Gospel Acts 6:8-14, 54-60 (Arrest, Stoning, ), preferred Cantata 57, ? , ); St. John, Apostle & Evangelist, 27 December 1724, Gospel 1 John 3:1 (Love the father has given, ) preferred Cantata 64 (, );? Holy Innocent Martyrs, 28 December 2024 (), Gospel Matthew 2:13-18 (Escape to Egypt, Massacre of Innocents, ), preferred Cantata 58 (Sunday after New Year, 5 January 1725; , ); New Year's Eve, 31 December (), Gospel Luke 12:35-42 (Son of Man coming at unexpected hour, ), preferred Cantata 28 (see above, Circumcision & Naming of Jesus, Year A).
ENDNOTES
1 John S. Setterlund, Bach Through the Year: The Church Music of Johann Sebastian Bach and the Revised Common Lectionary (Minneapolis MN, Lutheran University Press 2013:? 50f), , ).
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To Come:? Chorale Cantata Cycle:? Assumptions, Challenges
William Hoffman