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Quiz about JS Bach and his Cantatas
Quiz about JS Bach and his Cantatas

J.S. Bach and his Cantatas Trivia Quiz


You will not need to know the titles of any specific cantatas to play this quiz about Bach's huge output in this genre.

A multiple-choice quiz by jbuck919. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
jbuck919
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
178,059
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
734
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Which is the best definition of a cantata? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Approximately how many cantatas did Bach compose? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Most of Bach's cantatas were produced while he was the chief musician in which German city? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Bach was responsible for the music at several churches in that city, but which was by far the most important? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Which of the following never occurs in any Bach cantata? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Tunes of German hymns, or chorales, occur not only in four-part settings but in other contexts where they are set against independent instrumental or vocal forces. What is this technique called? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Bach wrote both cantatas and motets. What is the main difference? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Bach wrote a few cantatas just for fun. One of these is a satire on what common vice? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. The first complete edition of Bach's works in the 19th century chose what method for numbering the cantatas? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Finally, a straightforward question. During which decade were the great majority of Bach's cantatas composed? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Which is the best definition of a cantata?

Answer: A multi-movement work predominantly for vocal forces

A cantata is shorter than an oratorio.
2. Approximately how many cantatas did Bach compose?

Answer: More than 200

For a period of several years, Bach produced nearly one cantata every week. It can be stated without fear of contradiction that they constitute the densest production of masterly music of all time.
3. Most of Bach's cantatas were produced while he was the chief musician in which German city?

Answer: Leipzig

Though Bach produced some cantatas earlier in his career, the vast majority of them were written while he was Director Musices (Director of Music) in this theocratic Lutheran city.
4. Bach was responsible for the music at several churches in that city, but which was by far the most important?

Answer: St. Thomas

St. Thomas, already quite old in the time of Bach, was the largest and most important church in Leipzig. He was also responsible for the music at the churches of St. Nicholas and St. Peter.
5. Which of the following never occurs in any Bach cantata?

Answer: Spoken text

Recitatives occur in virtually every cantata. Instrumental movements are rare but exist (they are sometimes arrangements of other Bach works). A typical context for Jesus "singing" would be in a dialogue between Jesus and the soul.
6. Tunes of German hymns, or chorales, occur not only in four-part settings but in other contexts where they are set against independent instrumental or vocal forces. What is this technique called?

Answer: cantus firmus

The cantus firmus technique dates back to the very earliest days of polyphonic music. In many of Bach's cantatas, the opening chorus includes the chorale melody complete in one voice while the other voices and instruments pursue the main concerted idea of the movement. An obbligato is a solo instrumental line in a vocal movement, a ritornello is the "returning" musical idea that occurs between phrases of a vocal movement, and continuo refers to the harmonic continuity maintained by the constant accompaniment of all movements with organ/harpsichord and cello/double bass.
7. Bach wrote both cantatas and motets. What is the main difference?

Answer: Instruments were used in the motets only for doubling the voices.

The cantatas were written mostly for Sunday services, while the motets, though also religious in nature, were for special occasions such as important funerals. Because the motets rely on instruments only to double the parts, they are sometimes sung a capella.
8. Bach wrote a few cantatas just for fun. One of these is a satire on what common vice?

Answer: Drinking coffee

When coffee was introduced to Europe it was more controversial than tobacco at the time. Bach was himself an enthusiastic pipe smoker. Laziness (Faulheit) was commonly cited as a vice in the 18th century; Haydn wrote a song about it.
9. The first complete edition of Bach's works in the 19th century chose what method for numbering the cantatas?

Answer: They were arbitrarily given the first numbers in the edition.

Apparently the editors at the Bach Gesellschaft (Bach Society) who produced the Bach Werk Verzeichniss (BWV--Catalog of the Works of Bach), just grabbed up cantatas in convenient bunches according to the availability of manuscripts. Thus BWV 3 (Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein--Lord God, look down from heaven) was written much later than BWV 4 (Christ lag in Todesbanden--Christ lay in death's bonds).

The correct ordering of the cantatas was only undertaken as a scholarly project in the second half of the 20th century.
10. Finally, a straightforward question. During which decade were the great majority of Bach's cantatas composed?

Answer: 1721-1730

Bach's dates are 1685-1750. In his earlier years, he concentrated on music for the harpsichord, organ, and various instrumental combinations. In his last years, he continued to serve at Leipzig, but devoted his compositional efforts to grand compilations intended for publication, such as the Klavieruebung ("Keyboard Practice," in four parts), The Musical Offering, and the Art of the Fugue.
Source: Author jbuck919

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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