​by Rebecca Cochran
 
Cantata 35, Geist und Seele wird verwirret (Spirit and soul become confused), is a solo cantata for alto voice. In Bach’s time, the alto part was normally sung by a countertenor, the highest male solo voice type. In this instance, the alto part is quite demanding, so Bach probably wrote it with a specific singer in mind.
 
The cantata consists of seven movements in two parts. Both parts begin with a sinfonia, a sort of orchestral introduction. The entire cantata represents one of Bach’s most joyful moments. Though he would often introduce trumpets and timpani to connote happiness, in this case, he instead chose to use an obbligato solo organ in several movements.
 
If I was given the opportunity to travel back in time, I’d happily choose to be at St. Thomas Church (Thomaskirche) in Leipzig on September 8, 1726 –- the day that Bach led the first performance of Cantata 35. He, most likely, played the organ part himself!
 
Enjoy this jubilant rendering of the fifth movement, sinfonia presto, performed by the J. S. Bach Foundation of St. Gallen under Rudolf Lutz.

by Rebecca Cochran
 
Cantata 36, Schwingt freudig euch empor (Soar joyfully upwards), is another interesting example of Bach “stealing from himself.” Parts of this sacred cantata are based on music he used in a secular work he had composed in 1725 to mark the birthday of a Leipzig University teacher. Supposedly, there were several other extractions, combinations and modifications before Bach completely reworked the cantata for its first performance in 1731, just one week after the first performance of the popular Cantata 140, Sleepers Awake. The result is stunning.
 
I chanced upon this cantata when I discovered the J.S. Bach Foundation. Based in St. Gallen, Switzerland, under the artistic direction of Rudolf Lutz, the Foundation has set out to perform, and release on DVD, the complete vocal works of Bach over the course of 25 years.
 
The final aria of Cantata 36, scored for soprano and con sordino (muted) violin is sublimely beautiful. The J.S. Bach Foundation performance with soloists Nuria Rial (soprano) and John Holloway (violin) is otherworldly. Have a listen here.