Your interest in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach has led Artistic Director Franz Vote to program a new Cantata Series in 2023-2024. For the inaugural concert, he has chosen Cantata BWV 23, Du wahrer Gott und Davids Sohn (Thou very God and David’s Son) and Cantata BWV 114, Ach, lieben Christen, seid getrost (Dear Christians, be ye comforted).

Bach composed the sacred Cantatas BWV 22 and 23 when he applied for the position of Thomascantor in Leipzig. The first three movements of BWV 23 were composed while he was still in Cöthen; he added a fourth movement after obtaining the position in Leipzig. Cantata BWV 114 was written in Leipzig and first performed on October 1, 1724. It was part of his second annual cantata cycle for the Thomaskirche. Many of Bach’s cantatas were based on Lutheran chorale tunes, including this one: He utilized the chorale melody in movements 1, 4 and 7.