Cantata Information
Erforsche mich, Gott, und erfahre mein Herz, BWV 136
Created 18 June 1723, Leipzig period. Occasion: Trinitatis VIII.
BWV2 (1990 catalogue): BWV 136.
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Trinitatis VIII
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From the Bach Archiv Leipzig, this website offers scientifically sound information on the works of Johann Sebastian Bach as well as on the transmission of sources for this body of works up to around 1850, in accordance with the most up-to-date research.
A vast, long-running online resource created and curated by Aryeh Oron. It offers an unparalleled collection of information on J.S. Bach’s cantatas and other vocal works — including texts, translations, discographies, performer biographies, and historical notes — making it one of the most comprehensive Bach reference sites on the internet.
This Swiss foundation has set itself the unique task of performing the entire vocal works of Bach within a period of around 25 years. With great musical passion and historical performance practice, the choir and orchestra, conducted by Rudolf Lutz, interpret Bach's works to the highest standard. In their Bachipedia section you can find notes on all cantatas they have performed. In German, English and Spanish.
Of course the world's biggest encyclopedia has very deep information on all things Bach.
This Dutch Bach scholar created a website with information on all cantatas and other vocal works, with the librettos translated into Dutch, links to videos, other websites and much more. Since Eduard's death in 2024 I'm assisting his widow Ria to maintain the site, because such a wonderful resource must be preserved. In Dutch.
A very complete site containing the lyrics to most cantatas and an English translation, curated by two musical scholars and absolute Bach authorities, Michael Marissen and Daniel R. Melamed.
A collective group of singers and instrumentalists founded in 1970 by Craig Smith. It was created specifically to perform the complete cycle of over 200 sacred cantatas of J. S. Bach in the liturgical setting for which they were intended, an endeavor twice completed and a tradition which continues today. Has both notes on cantatas and translated librettos.
Emmanuel Music Boston has English translations for many cantatas.
The International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP), also known as the Petrucci Music Library after publisher Ottaviano Petrucci, is a digital library of public-domain music scores, available either as a subscription-based service or free without registering.
A Swiss website with French translations of the Bach cantatas.
A website with the texts and instrumentations of J. S. Bach's cantatas, motets, masses, passions, oratorios, and chorales.
Discogs (short for "discographies") is an online database and marketplace for audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. Its user-generated database aims to catalogue every physical music release ever made. As of 2025, it contains over 18 million entries.
Videos with this cantata
Bach-Stiftung
Published 10 August 2019J.S. Bach - Cantata BWV 136 "Erforsche mich, Gott, und erfahre mein Herz" (J.S. Bach Foundation)
Bach-Stiftung workshop
Published 8 August 2019Bach erklärt: Workshop zur Kantate BWV 136 "Erforsche mich, Gott" (J.S. Bach-Stiftung)
Bachcantate Tilburg
Published 26 November 2018BWV 136 - Erforsche mich, Gott, und erfahre mein Herz
Helmut Rilling
Published 28 September 2011Bach Cantata BWV136 Rilling
John Eliot Gardiner
Published 12 January 2018J. Bach - Cantatas BWV 178,136,45 - J. E. Gardiner (Vol.5 CD1)
Kay Johannsen
Published 13 November 2020J.S. Bach, Kantate BWV 136 „Erforsche mich, Gott, und erfahre mein Herz“ | Kay Johannsen
Masaaki Suzuki
Published 17 September 2021J.S. Bach - Cantatas BWV 136, 138, 95, 46 - M.Suzuki (CD 11/55)
Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Published 15 September 2019Bach - Cantate BWV 136 - Erforsche mich, Gott, und erfahre mein Herz
Ton Koopman
Published 20 July 2013J. S. Bach: Erforsche mich, Gott, und erfahre mein Herz (BWV 136) (Koopman)