Index to References to Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works
Bach Compendium
Work Group B: Sacred Works for Special Occasions

Group Description

Work Group B consists of sacred works (principally cantatas) for special occasions outside of the Sundays and feast days of the liturgical year (annual cycles of cantatas → Work Group A). The compositions in this work group are organized primarily according to their known or probable function. Within each of these categories, the works are arranged chronologically, whenever possible.

According to the available evidence concerning his estate (Obituary, Dok IIIl, p.86; Bach Reader, p.221), Bach is reported to have left behind »many works for burial services and for wedding Masses...« This vague account mentions only two of the many kinds of occasions for which appropriate sacred music would have been required. Others include occasions of state (Election of the Town Council → B 3 - B 10, Jubilee → B 27 - B 29) and events calling for specific commissions (→ B l - B 2, B 11 - B 23, B 30 -B 32, perhaps also B 24 - B 26). It is difficult to say what the extent of our losses are in this repertoire: the works that have survived extend from the Mühlhausen period, from 1707 at the latest (→ B 1, B 25), into the last Leipzig years (→ B 26, arrangement of another composer's work).

In contrast to the cantata cycles, the compositions in Work Group B do not belong to a unified musical genre. The spectrum ranges from »state music« of an oratorio-like character (→ B 21 - B 22) to simple chorale-like compositions (→ B 17); in one case (→ B 23a/b) it borders on the motet (→ Work Group C, funeral motets).

Synopsis - List by Group and BC Number - Work Group B

BC

BWV

BGA

NBA

Year

Title / Comments

Town Council Election

B 1

71

XVIII

I/32.1

1708

Gott ist mein König

[B 2]

Vorwort Nr. 10 [?]

-

2^nd cantata for the Mühlhäusen Town Council (text & music lost)

B 3

119

XXIV

I/32.1

1723

Preise, Jerusalem, den Herrn

[B 4a]

Anh 4

-

1726/1727

Wünschet Jerusalem Glück (earlier version, music lost) → B 29

[B 4b]

Anh 4

-

1741

Wünschet Jerusalem Glück (later version, music lost) → B 29

B 5

193

XLI

I/32.1

1726

Ihr Tore zu Zion (incomplete) → G 15

B 6

120

XXIV

I/32.2

1728

Gott, man lobet dich in der Stille → B 15, B 28

[B 7]

Anh 3

-

1730

Gott, gieb Dein Gerichte dem Könige (music lost)

B 8

29

V/1

I/32.2

1731

Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir

[B 9]

Deest

Herrscher des Himmels, König der Ehren (music preserved only in the prototype of G 1)

B 10

69

XVI

I/32.2

1747-49

Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele [II] → A 123

Wedding Mass

B 11

196

XIII/1

I/33

1708

Der Herr denket an uns

[B 12]

Anh 14

-

1725

Sein Segen fließt daher wie ein Strom (music lost)

B 13

34a

XLI

I/33

1726

O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe (incomplete) → A 84

[B 14a]

195

XIII/1

I/33

1727-1731

Dem Gerechten muß das Licht immer wieder aufgehen (1^st version)

B 14b

195

XIII/1

I/33

1742

Dem Gerechten muß das Licht immer wieder aufgehen (2^nd version)

B 14c

195

XIII/1

I/33

1748-1749

Dem Gerechten muß das Licht immer wieder aufgehen (latest version)

B 15

120a

XLI

I/33

1729?

Herr Gott, Beherrscher aller Dinge (incomplete) → B 9, B 28

B 16

197

XIII/1

I/33

1736-1737

Gott ist unsre Zuversicht

B 17

250-252

Three Wedding Chorales:
1. Was Gott tut das ist wohlgetan
2. Sei Lob und Ehr' Dem höchsten Gut
3. Nun danket alle Gott

A 187

117

XXIV

I/34

1728-1731

Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut

A 188

192

XLI

I/34

1730

Nun danket alle Gott

A 189

97

XXII

I/34

1734

In allen meinen Taten

A 191

100

XXII

I/34

1732-1735

Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan (III)

Funeral and Memorial Service

B 18

106

XXIII

I/34

1707

Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit

[B 19]

-

Was ist, das wir Leben nennen (music lost)

B 20

157

XXXII

I/34

1727

Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit → A 170

[B 21]

-

-

1^st Köthen Funeral Music (text & music lost)

[B 22]

244a

XX

I/34
II/5a

1729

Klagt, Kinder, klagt es aller Welt

B 23a

118

XXIV

III/1

1736-1737

O Jesu Christ, mein’s Lebens Licht (earlier version)

B 23b

118

XXIV

III/1

1746-1747

O Jesu Christ, mein’s Lebens Licht (later version)

Penitenial Service (Psalm Cantatas)

B 24

150

XXX

I/41

1704-1707

Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich

B 25

131

XXVIII

I/34

1707

Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir

B 26

-

-

Tilger, Höchster, meine Sünden

A 186

223

1707-1708

Meine Seele soll Gott loben

B 11

196

XIII/1

I/33

1707-1708

Der Herr denket an uns

[A 99a]

[21]

V/1

I/16

1713

Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis (earliest version; Mvts. 2, 6, 9)

Jubille of the Augsburg Confession 1730

[B 27]

190a

-

I/34

1730

Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied (music lost) → A 21

[B 28]

120b

-

I/34

1730

Gott, man lobet dich in der Stille (music lost) → B 9, B 15

[B 29]

Anh 4

-

I/32

1730

Wünschet Jerusalem Glück (music lost) → B 4a/b

Princely Birthday, Organ Dedication, Day of Glory

[B 30]

Anh 5

-

I/34

1718

Lobet den Herrn, alle seine Heerscharen (music lost)

B 31

194

XXIX

I/31

1723

Höchsterwünschtes Freudenfest → A 91a/b, G 11

[B 32]

Anh 15

-

I/34

1724?

Siehe, der Hüter Israel (text incipit extant)

--

Source: Volume 1, Part 3: Vocal Works III (contains the works of groups B, C and D),
Leipzig 1988, ISBN 3-369-00033-4 or Frankfurt / M. 1988, ISBN 3-876-26083-3, pp 828, 830-831
Prepared by Aryeh Oron & David O. Berger [Concordia Seminary Library, St. Louis, MO, USA] (September 2009)