Sunday Cantata

Lutheran Radio UK
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Series combining profound Lutheran spirituality with exquisite music. Pastor Tapani Simojoki introduces a cantata written by Bach for each Sunday of the church year. The cantatas of J.S. Bach form one of the most impressive musical achievements in the history of Western music. Over a period of several years, Bach wrote a new cantata every week to adorn the worship of St. Thomas church in Leipzig - a breath-taking task, producing some of the world’s greatest church music.

  1. 02/11/2025

    BWV 26 Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig

    "Ah, how fleeting, ah, how insubstantial". A chorale cantata based on a hymn by Michael Franck, which laments the brevity of human life – and therefore placing one’s trust in God and His eternal faithfulness.

    27 min

  2. 26/10/2025

    BWV 80 Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott

    "A mighty fortress is our God". A triumphant setting and expansion of Luther’s famous battle hymn of the Reformation.

    32 min

  3. 19/10/2025

    BWV 109 Ich glaube, lieber Herr, hilf meinem Unglauben

    "I believe, dear Lord, help my unbelief". Drawing on the account of Jesus’ healing of the official’s son in John 4, offering comfort to the weak in faith that whoever trusts in Jesus will never be disappointed.

    33 min

  4. 12/10/2025

    BWV 180 Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele

    "Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness". A chorale cantata, setting and expanding one of the great Lutheran communion hymns, by Johann Franck.

    31 min

  5. 05/10/2025

    BWV 56 Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen

    "I would gladly bear the cross-staff". A work for bass solo, this cantata is a declaration of confidence in God’s love through Jesus Christ. Even suffering and death, when received from God’s hand, can be received with joy.

    30 min

  6. 28/09/2025

    BWV 169 Gott soll allein mein Herze haben

    "God alone shall possess my heart". A work for alto solo, this cantata is a response to the double-commandment of love, to love God above all things and your neighbour as yourself.

    31 min

  7. 21/09/2025

    BWV 47 Wer sich selbst erhöhet, der soll erniedriget werden

    "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled". A call to humility in the face of God’s glory and human sinfulness, with a prayer to Jesus to grant such humility.

    32 min

  8. 14/09/2025

    BWV 95 Christus, der ist mein Leben

    "Christ, who is my life". A reflection on Jesus’ raising of the son of the widow of Nain, this cantata is built around four Lutheran funeral hymns. It expresses the Christian hope that death holds no fear for those whose Saviour Jesus is.

    31 min
See All (51)

About

Series combining profound Lutheran spirituality with exquisite music. Pastor Tapani Simojoki introduces a cantata written by Bach for each Sunday of the church year. The cantatas of J.S. Bach form one of the most impressive musical achievements in the history of Western music. Over a period of several years, Bach wrote a new cantata every week to adorn the worship of St. Thomas church in Leipzig - a breath-taking task, producing some of the world’s greatest church music.

Information

  • Channel
    Lutheran Radio UK
  • Creator
    Evangelical Lutheran Church of England
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Evangelical Lutheran Church of England. Licensed under CC BY ND 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/).
  • Show Website
    Sunday Cantata

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