Composer

:

Johann Sebastian Bach

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Cantata

Compose Date

:

May 6, 1725

Publication Date

:

1872

First Performance

:

May 6, 1725

Average_duration

:

19:47

Movement_count

:

7

Movement ....

Johann Sebastian Bach composed Cantata No. 87, Bisher habt ihr nichts gebeten, BWV 87, in 1725. The cantata premiered on the 23rd Sunday after Trinity, which fell on November 11th of that year. The cantata is divided into six movements, with a total runtime of approximately 25 minutes. The first movement is an aria for bass, accompanied by a solo oboe and strings. The second movement is a recitative for tenor, followed by a duet for soprano and alto in the third movement. The fourth movement is a chorale, followed by a recitative for bass in the fifth movement. The cantata concludes with a chorale in the sixth movement. The text of the cantata is based on the Gospel reading for the 23rd Sunday after Trinity, which tells the story of the healing of the blind man Bartimaeus. The cantata's title, Bisher habt ihr nichts gebeten, translates to "Until now you have asked for nothing," and refers to Jesus' question to Bartimaeus, "What do you want me to do for you?" The music of Cantata No. 87 is characterized by Bach's masterful use of counterpoint and his ability to convey the emotional depth of the text through his music. The opening aria for bass is particularly notable for its intricate interplay between the solo oboe and the bass voice, as well as its use of chromaticism to convey the blind man's sense of confusion and disorientation. The duet for soprano and alto in the third movement is also noteworthy for its delicate, almost ethereal quality, which contrasts with the more robust and earthy sound of the opening aria. Overall, Cantata No. 87 is a masterful example of Bach's ability to weave together text and music to create a deeply moving and spiritually uplifting work of art. Its themes of faith, healing, and redemption continue to resonate with audiences today, making it a beloved and enduring masterpiece of the Baroque era.

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