The Significance of Bach

Bach's Church Music

Before we engage ourselves in an evaluation of the previously mentioned interpretive approaches from the standpoint of Bach's music, let us take a look at Bach's church music itself.

Almost without exception, Bach's church music was written for a very specific purpose: for the worship services of those churches in which he was active as cantor in the course of his life. What the preacher said in words was also the topic of Bach's music. In the context of the worship service of his time, Bach restated and interpreted the message and belief of the church. As the basis for his music, he used texts written by theologian-poets or poet-theotogians that other composers set to music as well.

In all likelihood, it is these texts that have stood in the way of the wider propagation of Bach's cantata output for some time. There are three reasons for the alien nature of these texts.

In the first place, they constantly associate Biblical ideas in new ways that presume a thorough knowledge of the Bible. Consider as an example the text of this recitative from cantata BWV 113, which refers in close proximity to no less than four different Biblical stories that have nothing whatsoever to do with one another.

He calls: "'Come here, to the fount of every blessing. I have chosen you as my friends!' With this assurance, I want to come before you like the penitent Publican, and with humble spirit, pray, 'Lord, be merciful unto me.' O comfort my feeble heart ... so shall I also from henceforth become, like David and Manassah ... a child of heaven."

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