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.
Albert of Prussia was a member of the Teutonic Order who converted to Lutheranism and became the first Duke of Prussia in 1525. He wrote the hymn that this week's cantata is based on, set by Bach in 1725.
Was mein Gott will, das gscheh allzeit (What My God Wants, May it Always Happen) BWV 111
Written for the Purification of Mary, February 2nd, 1727, this cantata, and particularly its first aria, is one of Bach's most famous, and enjoyed popularity outside of Leipzig during his lifetime. Based on the account in Luke 2 of Mary's ritual purification at the temple in Jerusalem, the libretto is based on the Holy Family's encounter with Simeon, an aged individual who has been promised by God that he would see the Messiah before his death. As he holds the Christ Child, he sings the "Song of Simeon," a canticle known by its Latin incipit as the Nunc dimittis, which itself became the traditional canticle for the prayer office of Compline - the final office before one retires for the evening.
Since the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, the Roman church, as well as many protestant denominations, have followed a three-year cycle of scripture readings. In Bach's time, however, the Lutheran church followed a one-year cycle, with set readings for the last three Sundays before the beginning of Lent. This week's cantata was written for Sexagesima Sunday, the penultimate Sunday before Ash Wednesday, and is based on the Parable of the Sower from Luke 8.
Leichtgesinnte Flattergeister (Light-minded, frivolous spirits), BWV 181