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ohann Sebastian Bach arrived in Leipzig on May 22, 1723. Just eight days later, on May 30, Bach presented his first cantata. On every Sunday and feast day outside the periods of Advent and Lent preceding Christmas and Easter respectively, it was the task of the Thomaskantor to direct such pieces in the churches. Bach composed the cantatas himself. This was not one of his duties. It testifies all the more to the passion and the enthusiasm with which he went about his new assignment. Of the cantatas performed up to Trinity Sunday, 1724, some sixety have survived: the completely new works are supplemented by pieces from earlier stages in Bach's career, notably at Mühlhausen and Weimar. The Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart is performing all these cantatas in chronological order exactly 300 years later. The ensemble of the Bachakademie, the Gaechinger Cantorey, plays under the direction of Hans-Christoph Rademann. For this purpose it comprises the instrumentalists and up to four vocalists per voice, including the soloists, all specialists in their field, as Bach himself wished it. This is a vision that only now can be fulfilled in its ideal form. To this day the music will inspire its audience to devotion, challenge them to reflect and make them glad. It addresses questions of faith and comes to terms with particular situations of human life.
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)