This album is part of the "VISION.BACH" project by the Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart, which performed all of Bach's first-year cantatas chronologically, 300 years after their original performances.
Historical Context
During Bach's time, the University of Leipzig was a hub for literature, attracting students interested in law, theology, and music, as well as literary figures like Johann Christoph Gottsched.
Composition History
Bach often recycled and adapted existing works for his Leipzig cantata cycles, sometimes even transferring music from secular serenatas to sacred cantatas, as seen in BWV 173.2.
Composition History
Bach composed the cantatas himself during his first year in Leipzig, even though it was not part of his official duties, demonstrating his passion for the new assignment.
Interpretation
The Gaechinger Cantorey, the ensemble of the Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart, performs with up to four vocalists per voice, including soloists, reflecting Bach's desired practice.
Composer Biography
Johann Sebastian Bach moved from the peaceful court of Köthen to the bustling mercantile and university city of Leipzig in May 1723 to become a Cantor.
