Sunday Cantata
Sunday Cantata
Lutheran Radio UK
Series combining profound Lutheran spirituality with exquisite music. Pastor Tapani Simojoki introduces a cantata written by Bach for each Sunday of the church year. The cantatas of J.S. Bach form one of the most impressive musical achievements in the history of Western music. Over a period of several years, Bach wrote a new cantata every week to adorn the worship of St. Thomas church in Leipzig - a breath-taking task, producing some of the world's greatest church music.
BWV 140 Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
"Wake, awake, for night is flying". Perhaps the greatest of all the cantatas, based on one of the greatest Lutheran hymns, by Philipp Nicolai. Based on the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25), its subject matter is the love between, and the approaching wedding feast of, Christ and the Church.
Nov 25, 2018
49 min
BWV 70 Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!
"Watch! Pray! Pray! Watch!" Since Jesus will soon return to judge the living and the dead, and our lives can end at any moment, Christians ought to be watchful and diligent in prayer – and joyfully confident in the joy Jesus has prepared for them.
Nov 18, 2018
43 min
BWV 116 Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ
"You prince of peace, Lord Jesus Christ". The hymn by Jakob Ebert on which this chorale cantata is based was written as a prayer for peace in time of war. It is an act of repentance over our sins and an entreaty to Jesus, the prince of peace, to bring peace into our present suffering.
Nov 11, 2018
30 min
BWV 26 Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig
"Ah, how fleeting, ah, how insubstantial". A chorale cantata based on a hymn by Michael Franck, which laments the brevity of human life – and therefore placing one's trust in God and His eternal faithfulness.
Nov 4, 2018
27 min
BWV 80 Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott
"A mighty fortress is our God". A triumphant setting and expansion of Luther's famous battle hymn of the Reformation.
Oct 27, 2018
32 min
BWV 109 Ich glaube, lieber Herr, hilf meinem Unglauben
"I believe, dear Lord, help my unbelief". Drawing on the account of Jesus' healing of the official's son in John 4, offering comfort to the weak in faith that whoever trusts in Jesus will never be disappointed.
Oct 20, 2018
33 min
BWV 180 Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele
"Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness". A chorale cantata, setting and expanding one of the great Lutheran communion hymns, by Johann Franck.
Oct 13, 2018
31 min
BWV 56 Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen
"I would gladly bear the cross-staff". A work for bass solo, this cantata is a declaration of confidence in God's love through Jesus Christ. Even suffering and death, when received from God's hand, can be received with joy.
Oct 6, 2018
29 min
BWV 169 Gott soll allein mein Herze haben
"God alone shall possess my heart". A work for alto solo, this cantata is a response to the double-commandment of love, to love God above all things and your neighbour as yourself.
Sep 29, 2018
31 min
BWV 47 Wer sich selbst erhöhet, der soll erniedriget werden
"Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled". A call to humility in the face of God's glory and human sinfulness, with a prayer to Jesus to grant such humility.
Sep 22, 2018
31 min