New Years Day - Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus



These photos were taken on January 1, 2014 at the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Henderson, Kentucky. 

Cantatas for New Years Day

The cantatas for New Years Day include BWV 190, BWV 143, BWV 41, BWV 16 and BWV 171.

Recordings for these cantatas can be found at:

BWV 190
The trumpets in the opening Chorus and closing Chorale are striking.

BWV 143
Striking opening and closing Choruses with similar rhythmic structures nicely frame this cantata, which includes three memorable arias one after the other.  Note the accompaniment on the tenor aria.
Some have questioned if Bach even wrote this cantata, or all parts of this cantata.

BWV 41
BWV 41 begins with a long opening Chorus which, at points, is reminiscent of Brandenburg Concerto 2 (mvt. 3).  There is a memorable tenor aria and closing Chorale.

BWV 16
The opening Chorus and bass aria are marvelous, as is the oboe accompaniment to the tenor aria.

BWV 171
BWV 171 is majestic throughout.  Note the trumpet echos in the closing Chorale as well as the violin accompaniments of the tenor and soprano arias.

First Sunday after Christmas

Stones figure prominently in BWV 152 and God is described as a fountain in the tenor recitative of BWV 28.  The photo was taken on Sunday December 29, 2013 at the University of Southern Indiana.

Cantatas for the Sunday after Christmas

Cantatas for the Sunday after Christmas include BWV 152, BWV 122 and BWV 28.

Recordings of BWV 152 can be found here.
BWV 152 is an early cantata by Bach and is marked by minimal instrumental accompaniment.

Recordings of BWV 122 are listed here.
In BWV 122, the accompaniment to the Bass Aria is stunning.

Recordings of BWV 28 are compiled here.
Of the three "Sunday after Christmas cantatas," this one is the most upbeat, as it explicitly anticipates the New Year.

Third Day of Christmas, Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

On the Third Day of Christmas, December  27, 2013, the Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist is celebrated.  On this Third Day of Christmas I visited St. John Apostle and Evangelist Catholic Church in Daylight, Indiana.  Next to the church's cornerstone I have placed the CD slip cover of the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage CD for the Third Day of Christmas.

Cantatas for the Third Day of Christmas

Cantatas for the Third Day of Christmas include BWV 64, BWV 133 and BWV 151.

Recordings of BWV 64 are found here.
The three chorales would have been familiar to the congregations in attendance, and will sound "familiar" to the modern ear.  Also, note the striking accompaniments of the violin with the soprano aria, and of the oboe d'amore with the alto aria.

Recordings of BWV 133 are listed here.


Recordings of BWV 151 compiled here.
The alto aria is the centerpiece of this cantata, and has a memorable melody.  Note the emphasis on the D at various places in this aria.

Second Day of Christmas, December 26, 2013

Here is an image taken on December 26, St. Stephen's Day, which includes an ornament from the Czech Republic, and the book Good King Wenceslas.  St. Stephen's Day is mentioned in the carol, Good King Wenceslas, and was the subject of Christmas Mystery 2010. Wenceslas is from what is now the Czech Republic.