Der Harmonische Gottesdienst

72 Solo Cantatas for Voice, Melodic Instrument and Basso continuo.
Advent & Christmas – Medium Voice.

When Telemann issued his first annual cycle of printed cantatas, Der HarmonischeGottesdienst (Hamburg , 1725-6), he was already one of the leading cantata composers of his time. Thanks to their brevity and their simple scoring, the 72 solo cantatas have remained very popular to the presentday.

These editions (BA 5891 through to BA 5896) divide the annual cycle into cantatas for high voice and cantatas for medium voice.

Each series spreads the works over three volumes accompanied by separate partsforsolo instrument and continuo. The cantatas follow the order of the liturgical year, beginning with the Christmas season and continuing with Easter and Trinity.

Being practically minded, Telemann arranged theambitus of the Vocal parts so that the cantatas for medium voice are ‘also suitable for an ordinary alto or bass’.

Similarly, the solo instruments are suitable for Violin, Oboe, Recorder or Flute.

– Interesting solocantatas for use in church services.

– Urtext from the Telemann Edition.

– Separate parts for instrument and continuo.