BACH FACTORY on BWV 147 “Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben”

The “Bach Factory” is a video series by the J.S. Bach-Stiftung St. Gallen that gives you interesting insights into Bach’s cantatas – including exclusive excerpts from their live performance.

In this episode of “Bach Factory”, Xoán Elías Castiñeira and Rudolf Lutz explore the origins and meaning of J.S. Bach’s cantata BWV 147 – «Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben» (Heart and mouth and deed and life). This cantata, dedicated to the Feast of the Virgin Mary, is actually based on Bach’s earlier piece – an Advent cantata! So how did Bach reinvent the original, and what does the adding of a – now famous – chorale have to do with it? Rudolf Lutz and Xoán Elías Castiñeira explain.

The concert recording, introductory workshop and reflective lecture (in German) are available at Bachipedia.