Searching for the cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach

Whether you are looking for a score or sound recording, be aware that the cantata title in its original language is the official form that all libraries use in their catalogs. For Bach, this usually means the German title.

Each title is assigned a BWV number, which is the official catalog number assigned to each of Bach's works by Wolfgang Schmieder. You may also see this number preceded by an "S." on some of the library copies of scores.

If you know the exact title of the cantata for which you are searching, you can easily find it in KentLINK. Pick one or two important words from the title and search by keyword, using the word "and" to connect each word (e.g. schweigt and plaudert). It is best to search for keyword rather than by title, as the titles may appear in either the contents or title fields of the record--and a title search would not pick up your terms in the contents field. Then, limit by material type (c=score and j=sound recording) if necessary.

If you are looking for an aria or chorus within a cantata, and you do not know the cantata's title, you have several options:

  1. If you know the cantata number, search for it as a keyword search. Then, limit by "Bach" as an author. You can also find a listing of the cantatas at the end of the article on Johann Sebastian Bach in the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Music Ref ML100.N48.
  2. If you know the name of the aria or chorus only, whether in German or not, search for a word in the title of the aria or chorus as a keyword along with "bach" (e.g. sheep and bach). You will thus find any recordings listing these words in the contents fields. The contents field may list the cantata number, or if not, the recording itself will probably do so. Then, go back and search using the number. Thus, you would find that the aria "Sheep may safely graze" is in Cantata no. 208.
  3. There is also a good web site created by Prof. Walter F. Bischof of the University of Alberta at, which lists all of the cantatas by name, BWV number, movement title and theme (subject and time of year). It also lets you search their complete texts.
bach.html
Last Updated August 13, 1999
Web Page by Mary Du Mont (mdumont@kent.edu)
Hugh A. Glauser Music Library, Kent State University