What is a cantata - a genre or a separate work? And what sphere of human creativity does it belong to? Literature? To music? Often the cantata is confused with an oratorio, sonata or madrigal. In this article we will consider when the genre was born and how it developed. We note well-known examples of cantatas, we will trace how, from a purely church work, the aesthetic design of a sermon, it turned into an independent, musical, performed in philharmonic societies. And undoubtedly, we will pay some attention to the cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach, who raised them to the highest level of development.
Origin
The historical roots of the genre should be sought in the Middle Ages. In the poetry of the troubadours, the recitation of verses with musical accompaniment was practiced. The recitation was supposed to concern serious topics - historical events, spiritual thoughts. Later, the text, performed by solo, began to lie on the music. In fact, the genre crystallized in Italy at the end of the 16th century. Even the name carries romance roots: the verb "cantare" means "to sing." During the High Renaissance, it was, above all, a piece of music. But what is a cantata and how does it differ from a simple song? First, the solemn and serious theme of the verse. Secondly, the text was previously of secondary importance compared to music, at least at first. But since there were still poems, they began to distinguish the cantata from the sonata - a simple instrumental composition.
Genre development
Like any creation of human genius, the cantata has steadily developed. At first, the musical genre included only one vocal number performed by solo. Such a work began to be called madrigal. From the first half of the XVII century, the opera greatly influenced the development of the genre. Determining what a cantata is has become more complicated. The composition of the musical work began to include several solo numbers, as well as arias, recitations, duets, choir and orchestra accompaniment. The deep content of the serious nature of the text and music remained an unchanging characteristic of the genre. Therefore, cantatas were never performed in theaters. This work does not require any scenery or stage costumes. It also has no roles. This cantata differs significantly from the opera, although the orchestra in it is the main character of the whole action.
Musical accompaniment of the liturgy
At the Council of Trent, held in the 16th century, church authorities decided to strengthen the aesthetic side of worship to attract believers. Over time, the Gregorian chapel - a choir of singers who performed works without musical accompaniment - changed the organ. Oratorios began to compose his music - from the Latin word "orare", which means "to pray." These works were designed to emotionally emphasize the text of the sermon of the priest or read passages from the Bible. Since G.F. Handel wrote a concert oratorio, these musical works began to be written on secular topics. It should be said that cantatas were also included in the aesthetic design of Catholic and Protestant services. After all, their content could be both secular and spiritual. So what is an oratorio and a cantata, what is their main difference? It is not so easy to determine. We can say that in the oratorio, solo arias are often tied to roles, its overall performance is more dramatic. In the cantata, the lyrical element prevails, and the arias are not tied to any particular person.
Cantatas of Bach
Karissimi had a great influence on the development of the genre, and some scholars are even inclined to consider him the creator of this syncretic art form that combines musical performance and a poem. But the one who brought the cantata to a completely different level was Johann Sebastian Bach. It was he who combined the poetic and musical components in complete harmony with each other. Bach scooped the texts of his cantatas from the works of 16-18 centuries. The spiritual heritage of German poetry of such an extended period included Protestant orthodoxy, Franciscan mysticism, pietism, and even secular motifs of the Baroque era. What is a cantata in Bach? This is a complex vocal and instrumental work, consisting of several parts, each of which has its own rhythm, pace and tact. The ingenious composer wrote music for these works without interruption from the sacred texts. We will not understand, for example, “Passion for Matthew” unless we read the text of the arias. At the same time, music allows us to rethink the biblical legend, to feel it deeper.
Literary genre
We have already examined what a cantata is in music. But since it was originally a syncretic form of creativity, it is easy to assume that someday it will begin to be performed without musical accompaniment. The seriousness of the theme and the exaltation of events or a hero brought the cantata in poetry closer to an ode. As a literary work, it resembles a madrigal or panegyric. Often the cantata was written “in case” - to ascend to the throne or the anniversary of significant events. The literature also observes the development of this genre. So, over time, from the category of “court poetry”, the cantata moved to easier and more relaxed forms. Sometimes it even takes on the features of love lyrics (remember, at least, Pushkin's “Leda”). But, by the way, the mainstream leaves the cantata with a serious and pathetic theme. Cantatas wrote Glazunov on the centenary of the birth of Pushkin, Balakirev - on the opening of the monument to Glinka. In the era of the Stalinist Empire, this genre was also very popular. So, N. Ya. Myaskovsky wrote the cantata "Kirov with us" on the death of a politician.
Cantata: Definition
Thus, this term has several meanings. In music, this is both a genre and a work written in this vein. The cantata is close to the oratorio; an orchestra, choir and soloists participate in it. This is a large, complex work, consisting of several parts, different in rhythm. As for literature, the cantata is a poem written on a solemn occasion. Like a poem, it consists of several parts. But the theme in the cantata is not narrative, but glorifying.