Bach: Cantatas & Arias

The Italian term ‘cantata’ was generally applied to pieces written for a single voice in the eighteenth century and Bach’s practice was no different; he used the term ‘concerto’ for most of his works with multiple voices (now also called ‘cantatas’). But, apart from the presence or absence of a chorus, the two types are otherwise similar, products of the same environment and designed for the same purpose; both consist of sequences of recitatives, arias and chorales. The arias are the most developed musical forms, each generally based on the opening instrumental ‘ritornello,’ which contains the musical seed for the entire movement, setting its tone and mood. The vocal part is woven into this pre-established sound world, perfectly capturing the sense of the individual as part of an overarching order. This is something central to Bach’s religious outlook but it is also relevant for other conceptions of the human condition.