During the 18th century, the musical centerpiece of Lutheran worship services was the cantata, a multi-movement piece featuring chorus, orchestra, and vocal soloists. Johann Sebastian Bach composed over 200 cantatas during his long career as a Lutheran church musician. Listen to a complete Bach cantata every Sunday afternoon on Discover Classical.
The chorale, "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland," is a German paraphrase of the Latin hymn, "Veni, redemptor gentium," and is traditionally the first hymn in Lutheran hymnals. Last week, we heard a setting of this chorale in Bach's cantata BWV 61. After he was appointed Thomaskantor in 1724, Bach returned to this popular Advent hymn and wrote a second, larger cantata for the first Sunday in Advent of that year.
Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (Savior of the Nations, Come), BWV 62
Philipp Nicolai (1556-1608) was a Lutheran pastor and hymnwriter, responsible for writing what are known today as the King and Queen of Lutheran chorales. This week we'll hear the former: "Wachet auf," or "Sleepers Awake," based on the Parable of the Ten Virgins from Matthew 25. The virgins await the bridegroom's arrival at the wedding feast, an admonition to Christian's to be prepared for Christ's return. This chorale was set by Bach in 1742.
What we know as the Christmas Oratorio is actually six cantatas that Bach wrote to be performed during the various feast days found within the twelves days of Christmas. This week we'll hear Part One, written for Christmas Day, 1734, which begins "shout for joy!" and contains the Nativity story from Luke 2.