In 2023, to mark the 300th anniversary of Bach’s arrival in Leipzig, we launched our acclaimed Bach Cantata Cycle, in which we set out to perform all of the cantatas from Bach’s first year in Leipzig in a mix of concerts and workshops.  Read more

Come and be part of this exciting project by joining us at our 2027 workshop, when we’ll be studying the next two in the cycle:

Ein ungefärbt Gemüte  BWV 24
Barmherziges Herze der ewigen Liebe  BWV 185

Leading the day is our musical director, Benedict Collins Rice, joined by professional singers from the Oxford Bach Soloists – a partnership that has flourished year on year and elevated our end-of-day showcases to ever greater heights. This workshop will be no exception: specialist Baroque instrumentalists from Bristol Ensemble Baroque will join forces with our soloists to bring Bach’s music thrillingly to life in a final performance.

All are welcome – whether you’re a seasoned singer or simply eager to immerse yourself in Bach’s world.








         








J S Bach’s Leipzig Cantata Cycle 1723/24

Following the first Sunday after Trinity in 1723, the newly appointed Thomaskantor Bach performed at least one cantata a week in the Thomaskirche or Nikolaikirche in Leipzig, with church holidays entailing additional performances in both churches.

Many of the cantatas performed that year were newly composed while others had already been performed elsewhere, though Bach usually revised or adapted them for Leipzig. The following overview shows what was performed during this period. It begins with the audition cantatas performed in February 1723, and then lists the regular cantata performances from the First Sunday after Trinity 1723 to the conclusion of the cantata year on Trinity Sunday 1724.










Nativity of St John the Baptist, 24 June 1723: Ihr Menschen, rühmet Gottes Liebe, BWV 167

Trinity V, 27 June 1723: no extant cantata

Visitation, 2 July 1723: Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147 and possibly Magnificat in E-flat major, BWV 243a

Trinity VI, 4 July 1723: no extant cantata

Trinity VII, 11 July 1723: Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht, BWV 186

Trinity VIII, 18 July 1723: Erforsche mich, Gott, und erfahre mein Herz, BWV 136

Trinity IX, 25 July 1723: Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht mit deinem Knecht, BWV 105

Trinity X, 1 August 1723: Schauet doch und sehet, ob irgend ein Schmerz sei, BWV 46

Trinity XI, 8 August 1723: Siehe zu, daß deine Gottesfurcht nicht Heuchelei sei, BWV 179 and Weimar cantata Mein Herze schwimmt im Blut, BWV 199 restaged

Trinity XII, 15 August 1723: Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele, BWV 69a

Trinity XIII, 22 August 1723: Du sollt Gott, deinen Herren, lieben, BWV 77

Trinity XIV, 29 August 1723: Es ist nichts Gesundes an meinem Leibe, BWV 25

Trinity XV, 5 September 1723: Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz, BWV 138

Trinity XVI, 12 September 1723: Christus, der ist mein Leben, BWV 95

Trinity XVII, 19 September 1723: Bringet dem Herrn Ehre seines Namens, BWV 148

Trinity XVIII, 26 September 1723: no extant cantata

St Michael's Day, 29 September 1723: no extant cantata

Trinity XIX, 3 October 1723: Ich elender Mensch, wer wird mich erlösen, BWV 48

Trinity XX, 10 October 1723: Weimar cantata Ach! ich sehe, itzt, da ich zur Hochzeit gehe, BWV 162 restaged

Trinity XXI, 17 October 1723: Ich glaube, lieber Herr, hilf meinem Unglauben, BWV 109

Trinity XXII, 24 October 1723: Was soll ich aus dir machen, Ephraim, BWV 89

Reformation Day, 31 October 1723 (coinciding with Trinity XXIII): possibly Weimar cantata Nur jedem das Seine, BWV 163 restaged

Trinity XXIV, 7 November 1723: O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort, BWV 60

Trinity XXV, 14 November 1723: Es reißet euch ein schrecklich Ende, BWV 90

Trinity XXVI, 21 November 1723: Wachet! betet! betet! wachet! BWV 70

Advent I, 28 November 1723: Weimar cantata Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 61 restaged

Christmas, 25 December 1723: Weimar cantata Christen, ätzet diesen Tag, BWV 63 restaged; Magnificat, BWV 243a and Sanctus in D major, BWV 238

Second Day of Christmas, 26 December 1723: Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes, BWV 40

Third Day of Christmas, 27 December 1723: Sehet, welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater erzeiget, BWV 64

New Year, 1 January 1724: Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 190

Sunday after New Year, 2 January 1724: Schau, lieber Gott, wie meine Feind, BWV 153

Epiphany, 6 January 1724: Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen, BWV 65

Epiphany I, 9 January 1724: Mein liebster Jesus ist verloren, BWV 154

Epiphany II, 16 January 1724: Weimar cantata Mein Gott, wie lang, ach lange? BWV 155 restaged

Epiphany III, 23 January 1724: Herr, wie du willt, so schicks mit mir, BWV 73

Epiphany IV, 30 January 1724: Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen? BWV 81

Purification, 2 February 1724: Erfreute Zeit im neuen Bunde, BWV 83

Septuagesima, 6 February 1724: Nimm, was dein ist, und gehe hin, BWV 144

Sexagesima, 13 February 1724: Leichtgesinnte Flattergeister, BWV 181 and Weimar cantata Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee vom Himmel fällt, BWV 18 restaged

Estomihi, 20 February 1724: Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe, BWV 22 and Du wahrer Gott und Davids Sohn, BWV 23 restaged

Annunciation and Palm Sunday 25 March 1724: Siehe eine Jungfrau ist schwanger, BWV 1135 and Weimar cantata Himmelskönig, sei willkommen, BWV 182 restaged

Good Friday, 7 April 1724: St John Passion, BWV 245, 1st version – not considered as a cantata part of the cycle

Easter, 9 April 1724: early cantata Christ lag in Todes Banden, BWV 4 restaged; Weimar cantata Der Himmel lacht! Die Erde jubilieret, BWV 31 restaged

Easter Monday, 10 April 1724: Erfreut euch, ihr Herzen, BWV 66

Easter Tuesday, 11 April 1724: Ein Herz, das seinen Jesum lebend weiß, BWV 134

Quasimodogeniti, 16 April 1724: Halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ, BWV 67

Misericordias Domini, 23 April 1724: Du Hirte Israel, höre, BWV 104

Jubilate, 30 April 1724: Weimar cantata Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen, BWV 12 restaged

Cantate, 7 May 1724: Wo gehest du hin? BWV 166

Rogate, 14 May 1724: Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage euch, BWV 86

Ascension, 18 May 1724: Wer da gläubet und getauft wird, BWV 37

Exaudi, 21 May 1724: Sie werden euch in den Bann tun, BWV 44

Pentecost, 28 May 1724: Wer mich liebet, der wird mein Wort halten, BWV 59 and Weimar cantata Erschallet, ihr Lieder, erklinget, ihr Saiten! BWV 172 restaged

Pentecost Monday, 29 May 1724: no extant cantata

Pentecost Tuesday, 30 May 1724: Erwünschtes Freudenlicht, BWV 184

Trinity, 4 June 1724: Höchsterwünschtes Freudenfest, BWV 194 restaged