Wachet Auf
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JS Bach's "Wachet Auf" Calum Gunn
JS Bach (1685-1750) was a very prolific composer. He travelled around
Germany composing for schools and churches right up until his death, taking in
spells at Weimar, Arnstadt, Kthen and Leipzig (the town of his eventual death)
among others.
Bach became Leipzig's cantor on 5th May 1723, where he was to compose
music to be performed every Sunday in the town's churches (St. Thomas, St.
Nicholas, St. Peter and the New Church). The most important church was the St.
Nicholas, followed by St. Thomas, and the more taxing compositions were to be
performed in these churches (for example, cantatas, passions and motets),
leaving the others with less demanding pieces.
Cantata is an Italian word meaning "music to be sung"...