Ascension Cantatas

Ascension Day belongs to the most prominent feasts related to the life of Christ and therefore required special musical consideration in Bach’s time and he carefully paid attention to this. It does not surprise, therefore, when Bach included this feast day in his plans of the 1730s to give “oratorio status” to some works written for Christmas, Easter, and Ascension. “Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen“ BWV 11, entitled by Bach „Oratorium Festo Ascensionis Christi“, was first performed on 19 May 1735. “Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen“ BWV 43 was first performed on 30 May 1726. The text of this cantata was taken froma cycle of sacred poetry by Ernst Ludwig, Duke of Saxe - Meiningen. The cantata “Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein“ BWV 128 was first performed on 10 May 1725.The cantata “Wer da gläubet und getauft wird“ BWV 37 was premiered on 18 May 1724.