CHAPTER 23 Musical Sermons: Bach and the Lutheran Cantata
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Luther believed that music belonged to the
a. clergy. c. cantor.
b. choir. d. congregation.
2. In the Lutheran Church, the weekly hymns sung by the congregation were called
a. chorales. c. cantatas.
b. motets. d. anthems.
3. Which of the following describes the chorale?
a. Chorales were intended to be sung by the congregation.
b. All answers shown here.
c. Chorale texts are in German.
d. Chorales generally have simple and memorable melodies.
4. The sacred cantata was an integral part of the
a. Catholic church service.
b. Anglican church service.
c. Lutheran church service.
d. Pilgrims’ church service in America.
5. The expansion of the chorale with new poetry resulted in the
a. bar form. c. cantata.
b. motet. d. anthem.
6. During his musical career, Johann Sebastian Bach held the position of
a. cantor of St. Thomas Church in Leipzig.
b. court organist and chamber musician to the duke of Weimar.
c. court musician to the prince of Anhalt-Cöthen.
d. all of the answers shown here.
7. Johann Sebastian Bach was most famous in his day as a performer on the
a. harpsichord. c. piano.
b. organ. d. clavichord.
8. What would listeners hear in a typical Bach chorale?
a. intricate choral movements c. solo arias
b. simple, hymn-like settings d. all of the answers shown here.
9. What is the form of the chorale tune Wachet auf ?
a. A-B-B c. da capo (A-B-A)
b. A-B-B-A d. bar form (A-A-B)
10. Bach’s Cantata No. 140, Wachet auf, has ________ movements.
a. eight c. six
b. seven d. five
11. The opening movement of Bach’s cantata Wachet auf is best described as a
a. grand chorale fantasia. c. soprano aria.
b. duet for soprano and bass. d. four-part chorale.
12. The fourth movement of Bach’s cantata Wachet auf has three musical lines. They are
a. solo oboe, soprano, and bass.
b. unison choir, unison strings, and continuo.
c. boy sopranos, unison strings, and continuo.
d. solo violin, soprano, and continuo.
13. Which composer is the culminating figure of the Baroque musical style?
a. Henry Purcell c. Claudio Monteverdi
b. Johann Sebastian Bach d. Chiara Margarita Cozzolani
14. Bach directed a group of university students and musicians called the
a. collegium musicum. c. philharmonia.
b. concert band. d. Leipzig consort.
15. Johann Sebastian Bach was a composer born in
a. Germany. c. France.
b. Austria. d. Hungary.
16. One of Bach’s most important keyboard works is a set of forty-eight preludes and fugues called
a. The Art of the Clavier.
b. The Well-Tempered Clavier.
c. JS Bach’s Little Book of Fugues & Preludes.
d. the Brandenburg Concertos.
17. Bach’s cantata written to accompany the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins is
a. Wachet auf (Sleepers, Awake). c. St. John Passion.
b. Mass in B Minor. d. Jesu, Der Du Mein Seele.
18. Bach builds Wachet auf on a hymn written by
a. Philipp Nicolai. c. John Calvin.
b. Martin Luther. d. the pope.
19. Chorales greatly strengthened the trend toward clear-cut melody supported by a ________ texture.
a. monophonic c. polyphonic
b. homophonic d. heterophonic
20. Bach’s cantatas typically include ________ movements.
a. five to eight c. eight to ten
b. four d. three
21. Who are the Wise and Foolish Virgins waiting for in this biblical parable?
a. Christ c. St. John
b. Bach d. Mary
22. What was an integral musical part of the Lutheran church service?
a. the sacred cantata c. oratorio
b. a Requiem d. sonata
23. The collegium musicum is a group of ________ musicians.
a. university students and c. church
b. professional d. court
24. Johann Sebastian Bach is the culminating figure of the ________ musical style.
a. Romantic c. Classical
b. Baroque d. Renaissance
25. What was Johann Sebastian Bach’s primary instrument?
a. flute c. trumpet
b. organ d. voice
TRUE/FALSE
1. Luther believed that professional musicians had no place in a church service.
2. A chorale is a hymn tune associated with German Lutherans.
3. Chorales were intended to be sung by a trained choir.
4. The texts for chorales were always taken directly from the Bible.
5. Bach completed over two hundred cantatas.
6. Johann Sebastian Bach lived a short, unhappy life and had no children.
7. During his lifetime, Johann Sebastian Bach was known primarily as a great organist.
8. All the movements of Bach’s Cantata No. 140 make use of the chorale tune Wachet auf.
9. In Wachet auf, Bach avoids mirroring the form of the chorale in his chorale movements.
10. A bar form has the structure of A-A-B.
11. Bach was a master of contrapuntal composition.
12. Although a skilled composer, Bach never mastered the art of the fugue.
13. Bach wrote the text for Wachet auf.
14. Congregational singing of a specific chorale is still integrated into each weekly Lutheran service, along with the Gospel reading,
prayers, and a sermon.
15. The Lutheran cantata is a sort of musical sermon based on the original choral hymn.
16. The Art of the Fugue is one of Bach’s important works for orchestra.
17. Bach was a French composer and his musical works are the pinnacle of the late-Renaissance style.
18. The last movement of Wachet auf celebrates the union of Christ and his bride.
19. The first movement of Wachet auf musically reenacts Christ’s Last Supper.
20. Bach builds Wachet auf on a hymn by Philipp Nicolai.
ESSAY
1. What is the role of the chorale in the Lutheran service and specifically in the Lutheran cantata?
2. Describe Bach’s typical cantatas, using examples from Wachet auf.
3. Why is Bach considered one of the giants in the history of music?
4. Discuss why the idea that musical worship belongs to the congregation was one of Martin Luther’s most important and lasting
contributions.