Bach's cantata

Introduction

The story of Bach's cantatas begins with his first employment at the age of 18, in August of 1703, when he was appointed organist to the New Church in Arnstadt having recently dazzled the congregation with his brilliant performance at the dedication of their new organ. While his duties as organist did not require the composition of cantatas, Bach nevertheless produced some of his earliest choral works at this time, including Cantata 150: Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich - Lord, my soul doth thirst for thee which is probably his earliest, and the Easter Cantata 4: Christ lag in Todesbanden ...