200th anniversary of Augsburg Confession

Wednesday 26 June 2024

200th anniversary of Augsburg Confession

26 June 2024 – June 26th 1730 was the 2nd day of the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession, the primary confession of faith of the Lutheran Church and one of the most important documents of the Lutheran Reformation. The Augsburg Confession was written in both German and Latin and was presented by a number of German rulers and free-cities at the Diet of Augsburg on 25 June 1530 to Emperor Charles V.

Bach wrote no less than three cantatas for this celebration, but unfortunately all are lost. Luckily two of them where based on other cantatas that did survive. Gott, man lobet dich in der Stille, BWV 120b, lives on in the reworked BWV 120, which Bach wrote for the 1742 Ratwechsel (August 29th).

Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 190a, is based on BWV 190, which he wrote for New Year's Day 1724.
The last Cantata, Wünschet Jerusalem Glück, BWV Anh. 4a is unfortunately completely lost.

Music for today

  • Gott, man lobet dich in der Stille, BWV 120b
    (first performance 26 June 1730, Leipzig period)
  • Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 190a
    (first performance 26 juni 1730, instrumental parts lost, Leipzig period)

Playlist

WBCF0626-200th anniversary of Augsburg Confession

Playlist cover on Spotify

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Image of the day

Gravure by Christian Beyer (1482-1535) depicting the Imperial Diet in Ausburg, with the Augsburg Confession being presented to Emperor Charles V on the left.

Gravure by Christian Beyer (1482-1535) depicting the Imperial Diet in Ausburg, with the Augsburg Confession being presented to Emperor Charles V on the left.