CANTATAS FOR THE LAST SUNDAYS IN TRINITY

JS BACH

Höchsterwünschtes Freudenfest (Most highly desired festival of joy), BWV 194 
O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort (O eternity, you word of thunder), BWV 60 
Es reißet euch ein schrecklich Ende (A horrible end will carry you off), BWV 90 
Wachet! betet! betet! wachet! (Watch! pray! pray! watch!), BWV 70 

On 2nd November 1723, Bach was in Störmthal and performed Cantata 194 to dedicate their new organ. Full of extrovert colours, Bach adapts the structure and style of an orchestral suite into cantata form. Easter Day falls late this year and so we bring forward the cantatas Bach wrote for the final Sundays in Trinity.

These dramatic works deal with the subject of Christ’s second coming as judge of the world, and warn us to keep watch and pray (Cantata 70) or face a terrifying outcome (Cantata 90).