Bach - Cantata Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis BWV 21 - Sato | Netherlands Bach Society

The Italian influence could be heard immediately in Bach’s music during his time in Weimar. In the opening chorus of this cantata, ’Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis’, performed by the Netherlands Bach Society conducted by Shunske Sato, you can hear clear echoes of one of Vivaldi’s concertos. An early version of the cantata probably originated in 1713, written for the funeral of the wife of a high court official, on 8 October. The theme of the sermon for this service was psalm 94, verse 19, which is precisely the text of the opening chorus of Bach’s cantata. This early version consisted only of parts 2–6 and 9. In March 1714, Bach was told that he must “monatlich neüe Stücke ufführen” for the court chapel. And so the church cantatas for Weimar were born. On 17 June, the third Sunday after Trinity, the longer version of this cantata was performed there. Recorded for the project All of Bach on 22 April 2021 at TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht. If you want to help us complete All of