Bach's early cantatas
Compositions
The texts for the early cantatas were drawn mostly from biblical passages and hymns. Features characteristic of his later cantatas, such as recitatives and arias on contemporary poetry, were not yet present, although Bach may have heard them in oratorios by Buxtehude, or even earlier.

Bach's early cantatas

Section Title: Compositions
Table Section Text: The texts for the early cantatas were drawn mostly from biblical passages and hymns. Features characteristic of his later cantatas, such as recitatives and arias on contemporary poetry, were not yet present, although Bach may have heard them in oratorios by Buxtehude, or even earlier.

Date	Occasion	BWV	Incipit	Text source

24 Apr 1707	Easter	4	Christ lag in Todesbanden	Luther

1707?	Penitence	131	Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir	Psalm 130

4 Feb 1708	Inauguration of the town council	71	Gott ist mein König	mainly Psalm 74, with added biblical quotations

3 Jun 1708? 16 sep 1708?	Funeral	106	Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit (Actus tragicus)	compilation of seven biblical quotations, three hymns and free poetry

5 Jun 1708?	Wedding?	196	Der Herr denket an uns	Psalm 115:12–15

10 Jul 1707?	Trinity III?	150	Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich	Psalm 25, anon.

1709–1711?	New Year's Day? Council election?	143	Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele	mainly Psalm 146, two stanzas of Jakob Ebert's hymn "Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ"

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