Bach's church cantatas Ruth Tatlow

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Tatlow, Ruth, author.

Series:

ABS guides

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bach, Johann Sebastian, 1685-1750. Cantatas.

Bach, Johann Sebastian.

Bach, Johann Sebastian, 1685-1750--Criticism and interpretation.

Cantatas, Sacred--18th century--History and criticism.

Cantatas, Sacred.

Bach, Johann Sebastian, 1685-1750.

Cantatas (Bach, Johann Sebastian).

Genre:

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

illustration

Place of Publication:

Oxford University Press

New York, NY Oxford University Press [2025]

Summary:

"This book opens with the chapter 'Glory from the Gallery' which introduces the reader to every aspect of Bach's church cantatas discussed under eight headings: 'Bach and church cantatas', 'How Bach composed the cantatas', 'A creational theology of music', 'Meaning embedded in music and structures', 'Poetic forms in the cantata texts', 'Bach's domestic circumstances and the cantatas', 'How to refer to the cantatas', and 'Listening to the cantatas'. Chapters two through six each give a case study on a specific cantata, selected to illustrate the variety of cantata styles, discussing the composition movement-by-movement and giving new research on the context and meaning. Chapter two focuses on one of Bach's earliest cantatas, 'Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit', Cantata (BWV) 106. Traditionally seen as a funeral cantata, the chapter examines new evidence that suggests new narratives. The third chapter is devoted to the Advent cantata 'Nun kom der Heyden Heyland, Cantata (BWV) 61, asking some hard questions about how Bach perceived of the 'heathen'. The focus of chapter four is Cantata (BWV) 147, 'Herz, und Mund, und That, und Leben' with its ever-popular chorale setting 'Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring'"-- Provided by publisher

Contents:

Glory from the gallery. Bach and church cantatas ; How Bach composed the cantatas ; A creational theology of music ; Meaning embedded in music and structures ; Poetic forms in the cantata texts ; Bach's domestic circumstances and the cantatas ; How to refer to the church cantatas ; Listening to Bach's church cantatas ; Suggestions for further reading

Music for a Mühlhausen occasion : 'Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit'. Movement by movement ; Ways of understanding Cantata 106 ; Clues indicating the possible purposes of 'Gottes Zeit' ; For whom did Bach write Cantata 106? ; Suggested further reading

Advent music for Weimar and Leipzig : 'Nun komm der Heyden Heyland'. Advent Sunday ; Does Bach's musical setting reflect Pfeiffer's inclusive theology? ; Listening today ; Suggestions for further reading

Music for winter and summer : 'Hertz, und Mund, und That, und Leben'. The six-movement Weimar cantata ; The ten-movement Leipzig cantata ; Movement by movement ; Hearing the cantata as a story ; More thoughts on the final chorale ; Suggestions for further reading

Pastoral music for a Leipzig springtime : 'Du Hirte Israel, höre'. The cantata text ; Pfeiffer on the Good shepherd ; Bach's musical response, movement by movement ; Bach's life circumstances as he wrote about the Good shepherd ; Suggestions for further reading

Candlemas in Leipzig : 'Ich habe genung'. What is Candlemas? ; From text to music, movement by movement ; More on the text and its structure ; Contexts of the first performances ; A personal connection? ; Cantata 82 today ; Suggestions for further reading

Glory from new galleries : reimagining Bach's church cantatas. Disputes and disagreements ; Viewing the "other" ; Bach and tolerance ; Bach's church cantatas for the future ; suggestions for further reading

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description based on online resource; title from home page (Oxford Academic, viewed April 30, 2026)

Other Format:

Print version Tatlow, Ruth. Bach's church cantatas

ISBN:

9780197622537

0197622534

9780197622544

0197622542

019762250X

9780197622506

9780197622520

0197622526

OCLC:

1484823389

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license