Trinitatis XX

Trinitatis XX or 20th Sunday after Trinitatis

22 October 2023 – Today is Trinitatis XX or the 20th Sunday after Trinitatis. Three cantatas for you today, an earlier one from the Weimar period and two from Leipzig.

Ach! ich sehe, itzt, da ich zur Hochzeit gehe, BWV 162, was composed by Bach in Weimar, where he created a new cantata every month. It was first performed in the Schlosskirche in Weimar in 1715 or 1716, the date is not certain. We do know that he performed the cantata again in Leipzig, and even added a corno da tirarsi (a pullhorn).

The chorale cantata Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, BWV 180, is based upon Johann Franck's (1618-1677) hymn with the same name, with a melody by Johann Crüger. It matches the Sunday's prescribed reading, the Parable of the Great Banquet from the Gospel of Matthew.

Ich geh und suche mit Verlangen, BWV 49, from the third cantata cycle, features a dialog between bass and soprano, also the only soloists in this cantata.

Music for today

• Ach! ich sehe, itzt, da ich zur Hochzeit gehe, BWV 162
  (first performance ? 3 November 1715 or 25 October 1716, Weimar period)
• Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, BWV 180
  (first performance 22 October 1724, Leipzig period)
• Ich geh und suche mit Verlangen, BWV 49
  (first performance 3 November 1726, Leipzig period)