Challenge Classics: CC72284

Bach - Wedding Cantatas

Bach composed his church cantatas not only for the regular Sundays and feast days of the liturgical year but also for specific occasions. Among the most important of those were weddings of usually well-to-do couples. This CD gathers together these so-called “Wedding” cantatas which were originally issued as part of the award-winning series of the complete cantatas by Ton Koopman and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir. The cantata “Dem Gerechten muß das Licht“ BWV 195 survives in several versions, but Its origins date from before 1730. “Der Herr denket an uns“ BWV 196 was in all likelihood composed at Mühlhausen around 1707-08, that is around the time of Bach himself getting married to his distant cousin Maria Barbara on October 17th 1707. “Gott ist unsre Zuversicht“ BWV 197 dates from about 1736-37 and must have been written for a prominent Leipzig wedding. The unknown librettist makes use of Psalm 48: 11 and thereby probably refers to the text chosen for the sermon. “Weichet nur, betrübte Schatten“ BWV 202 is a cantata for soprano solo and, as the text clearly suggests, written for a wedding. However, no further details are known.