Bach's Epiphany Masterpiece: Theological Themes Meet Musical Innovation
Bach wrote it for Epiphany, the feast marking the Magi's visit. BWV 123, "Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen," first performed at Leipzig's St. Nicholas Church on January 6, 1725. It was his 26th cantata of that church year. Bach was producing roughly one new cantata per week at the time — a compositional pace that would break most musicians. The work opens with a chorale fantasia, the congregation's familiar melody stretched across complex counterpoint. Bach completed the entire cantata cycle in 1726. He wrote over 200 of them.
January 6, 1725
301 years ago
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