A TABLE OF OCCASIONS FOR THE SACRED WORKS

This table gives with a brief summary the Epistle and Gospel for each Sunday and festival for which Bach composed a vocal work. The works performed appear in relative chronological order after each occasion.

SUNDAYS AND MAJOR HOLY DAYS

    First Sunday in Advent: BWV 61, 62, 36.
        Rom. 13:11-14: Our Salvation is near.
        Mt. 21:1-9: Entrance into Jerusalem.
    Second Sunday in Advent: BWV 70a.
        Rom. 15:4-13: The Ministry to the Gentiles.
        Lk. 21:25-36: The Second Coming of Christ.
    Third Sunday in Advent: BWV 186a.
        1 Cor. 4:1-5: The Stewardship of the Apostles.
        Mt. 11:2-10: John in Prison.
    Fourth Sunday in Advent: BWV 132, 147a.
        Phil. 4:4-7: Joy in the Lord.
        Jn. 1:19-28: The Testimony of John the Baptist.
        Tit. 2:11-14: The Grace of God is manifest.
        Or: Is. 9:2-7: To us a Child is born.
        Lk. 2:1-14: The Birth of Christ.
    Second Day of Christmas (St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr, 26 December): BWV 40, 121, 57, 248II.
        Tit. 3:4-7: The Washing of Regeneration.
        Or: Acts 6:8ff. and 7:54-59: The Martyrdom of Stephen.
        Lk. 2:15-20: The Shepherds at the Manger.
        Or: Mt. 23:34-39: The Slaying of the Prophets.
    Third Day of Christmas (St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, 27 December): BWV 64, 133, 151, 248III.
        Heb. 1:1-14: Christ is higher than the angels.
        Jn. 1:1-14: In the beginning was the Word.
    Sunday after Christmas Day (Last Sunday of the Civil Year, not present in every year): BWV 152, 122, 28.
        Gal. 4:1-7: Christ frees us from the Law.
        Lk. 2:33-40: Simeon and Anna's Words to Mary.
    New Year's Day (Feast of the Circumcision and Naming of Christ, 1 January): BWV 190, 41, 16, 171, 248IV, 143, XVIII.
        Gal. 3:23-29: By Faith we are children of God.
        Lk. 2:21: The Circumcision and Naming of Christ.
    Sunday after New Year's Day (not present in every year): BWV 153, 58, 248V.
        1 Pet. 4:12-19: The Sufferings of Christ.
        Mt. 2:13-23: The Flight into Egypt.
        Is. 60:1-6: The Conversion of the Gentiles.
        Mt. 2:1-12: The Wise Men from the East.
    First Sunday after Epiphany: BWV 154, 124, 32.
        Rom. 12:1-6: The Christian Rules of Life.
        Lk. 2:41-52: The Twelve-year-old Jesus in the Temple. Second Sunday after Epiphany: BWV 153, 3, 13.
        Rom. 12:6-16: The Christian Rules of Life.
        Jn. 2:1-11: The Marriage Feast at Cana.
    Third Sunday after Epiphany (not present in every year): BWV 73, 111, 72, 156.
        Rom. 12:17-21: The Christian Rules of Life.
        Mt. 8:1-13: The Healing of a Leper and a Man with Palsy.
    Fourth Sunday after Epiphany (not present in every year): BWV 81, 14.
        Rom. 13:8-10:Ý Love is the Fulfilment of the Law.
        Mt. 8:23-27: Jesus calms the storm.
    Septuagesima Sunday: BWV 144, 92, 84.
        1 Cor. 9:24-10:5: Preparation for the Footrace; The Baptism of Moses in the Red Sea.
        Mt. 20:1-6: The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard.
        2 Cor. 11:19-12:9: The Perfection of God's Power in Weakness.
        Lk. 8:4-15: The Parable of the Sower.
    Estomihi (Quinquagesima, or the Sunday before Lent): BWV 22, 23, 127, 159.
        1 Cor. 13:1-13: The Praise of Charity.
        Lk. 18:31-43: The Journey to Jerusalem and Healing of a Blind Man.
    Oculi (Third Sunday in Lent): BWV 54, 80a.
        Eph. 5:1-9: Exhortation to a Pure Life; the Children of Light.
        Lk. 11:14-28: The Casting Out of a Devil. Palmarum (Palm Sunday): BWV 182.
        Phil. 2:5-11: Be of one mind with Jesus.
        Or: 1 Cor. 11:23-32: The Last Supper.
        Mt. 21:1-9: Entrance into Jerusalem.

The Passion of Christ.

    Easter Sunday: BWV 4, 31, 249.
        1 Cor. 5:6-8: Christ, our Paschal Lamb.
        Mk. 16:1-8: The Resurrection of Christ.
    Second Day of Easter (Easter Monday): BWV 66, 6, VI.
        Acts 10:34-43: Peter's Sermon to the Centurion Cornelius on Christ's Resurrection.
        Lk. 24:13-35: The Journey of the Disciples to Emmaus.
    Third Day of Easter (Easter Tuesday): BWV 134, 145, 158.
        Acts 13:26-33: Paul's Sermon in Antioch.
        Lk. 24:36-47: Jesus appears to the Disciples in Jerusalem.
    Quasimodogeniti (First Sunday after Easter):Ý BWV 67, 42.
        1 Jn. 5:4-10: Faith overcomes the World.
        Jn. 20:19-31: Jesus appears to the Disciples and Doubting Thomas.
    Misericordias Domini (Second Sunday after Easter or Good Shepherd Sunday): BWV 104, 85, 112.
        1 Pet. 2:21-25: Jesus, the Shepherd of the Lost Sheep.
        Jn. 10:12-16: The Good Shepherd.
    Jubilate (Third Sunday after Easter): BWV 12, 103, 146.
        1 Pet. 2:11-20: The Duties of God's Servants to God and to Human Ordinance.
        Jn. 16:16-23: Your Sorrow shall be turned into Joy. Cantate (Fourth Sunday after Easter): BWV 166, 108.
        Jas. 1:17-21: All perfect Gifts come from above.
        Jn. 16:5-15: Jesus departeth, the Comforter cometh.
    Rogate (Fifth Sunday after Easter or Rogation Sunday): BWV 86, 87.
        Jas. 1:22-27: Be not Hearers, but Doers of the Word.
        Jn. 16:23-30: On Prayer in Jesus' Name.
    Ascension Day (sometimes called Holy Thursday): BWV 37, 128, 43, 11.
        Acts 1:1-11: The Final Commission and Ascension of Jesus.
        Mk. 16:14-20: The Commandment to Baptize and the Ascension.
    Exaudi (The Sunday after Ascension Day): BWV 44, 183.
        1 Pet. 4:8-11: On Christian Service in Good Works.
        Jn. 15:26-16:4: The Prediction of the Persecution of the Disciples.
    First Day of Pentecost (Whitsunday): BWV 172, 59, 74, 34.
        Acts 2:1-13: The Descent and Appearance of the Holy Ghost.
        Jn. 14:23-31: If ye love me, keep my commandments.
    Second Day of Pentecost (Monday in Whitsun Week): BWV 173, 68, 174.
        Acts 10:42-48: The End of Peter's Sermon to Cornelius and the Baptism of the Gentiles.
        Jn. 3:16-21: God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son.
    Third Day of Pentecost (Tuesday in Whitsun Week): BWV 184, 175.
        Acts 8:14-17: The Reception of the Holy Ghost in Samaria.
        Jn. 10:1-11: The Good Shepherd.
        Rom. 11:33-36: God's Wisdom.
        Jn. 3:1-5: Jesus's Conversation with Nicodemus.
    First Sunday after Trinity: BWV 54 (also Oculi), 75, 20, 39.
        1 Jn. 4:16-21: God is Love.
        Lk. 16:19-31: Dives and Lazarus.
    Second Sunday after Trinity: BWV 76, 2.
        1 Jn. 3:13-18: On Brotherly Love.
        Lk. 14:16-24: The Parable of the Great Supper.
    Third Sunday after Trinity: BWV 21, 135, 177 (also Fourth Sunday after Trinity).
        1 Pet. 5:6-11: Cast your care upon God.
        Lk. 15:1-10: The Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin.
    Fourth Sunday after Trinity: BWV 185, 24, 177.
        Rom. 8:18-23: Salvation through the Hope of the Holy Spirit.
        Lk. 6:36-42: Be merciful; Judge not, and ye shall not be judged.
    Fifth Sunday after Trinity: BWV 93, Neumeister's Der Segen des Herrn machet reich ohne Mühe, 88.
        1 Pet. 3:8-15: Patience in Suffering.
        Lk. 5:1-11: Peter's Miraculous Draught of Fishes.
    Sixth Sunday after Trinity: Neumeister's Wer sich rächet, an dem wird sich der Herr wieder rächen, BWV 170, 9.
        Rom. 6:3-11: Deliverance from Sin through Christ's Death.
        Mt. 5:20-26: Christ's Reinterpretation of the Law.
    Seventh Sunday after Trinity: BWV 54 (Oculi), 186, 107, 187, XVII.
        Rom. 6:19-23: The Fruits of the Service of God.
        Mk. 8:1-9: The Feeding of the Four Thousand.
    Eighth Sunday after Trinity: BWV 136, 178, 45.
        Rom. 8:12-17: Those led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.
        Mt. 7:15-23: The Warning against False Prophets.
    Ninth Sunday after Trinity: BWV 105, 94, 168.
        1 Cor. 10:6-13: Warning against Idolatry and Smugness.
        Lk. 16:1-9: The Parable of the Unjust Steward.
    Tenth Sunday after Trinity: BWV 46, 101, 102.
        1 Cor. 12:1-11: Concerning Spiritual Gifts.
        Lk. 41-48: The Prophecy of the Destruction of Jerusalem; the Driving-out of the Merchants from the Temple.
    Eleventh Sunday after Trinity: BWV 199, 179, 113.
        1 Cor. 15:1-10: The Resurrection of Christ and the Apostolic Mission of Paul.
        Lk. 18:9-14: The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican.
    Twelfth Sunday after Trinity: BWV 69a, 137, 35, 69.
        2 Cor. 3:4-11: The Letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.
        Mk. 7: 31-37: The Healing of the Deafmute.
    Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity: BWV 77, 33, 164.
        Gal. 3:15-22: The Promise to Abraham and the Law.
        Lk. 10:23-37: The Good Samaritan.
    Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity: BWV 25, 78, 17.
        Gal. 5:16-24: The Works of the Flesh and the Fruits of the Spirit.
        Lk. 17:11-19: The Healing of Ten Lepers.
    Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity: BWV 138, 99, 51.
        Gal. 5:25-6:10: Exhortation to Gentleness and Goodness.
        Mt. 6:24-34: Be not anxious for the morrow.
    Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity: BWV 161, 95, 8, 27.
        Eph. 3:13-21: Paul prays for the strengthening of the faith of the Ephesians.
        Lk. 7:11-17: The Young Man of Nain Brought Back to Life.
    Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity: BWV 148, 114, 47.
        Eph. 4:1-6: Exhortation to Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace.
        Lk. 14:1-11: The Healing of the Man with the Dropsy.
    Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity: BWV 96, 169.
        1 Cor. 1:4-9: Paul's Thanksgiving for the Grace of God Given to the Corinthians.
        Mt. 22:34-46: The First and Great Commandment; David's "Son" and David's "Lord."
    Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity: BWV 48, 5, 56.
        Eph. 4:22-28: The Renewal in the Spirit of the Mind.
        Mt. 9:1-8: The Healing of the Man with the Palsy.
    Twentieth Sunday after Trinity: BWV 54 (also Oculi), 162, 180, 49.
        Eph. 5:5-21: Submit yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
        Mt. 22:1-14: The King's Wedding Banquet for his Son; Many are called, but few are chosen.
    Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity: BWV 109, 38, 98, 188.
        Eph. 6:10-17: Put on the whole armor of God.
        Jn. 4:47-54: The Healing of the Son of a Nobleman at Capernaum.
    Twenty-second Sunday after Trinity: BWV 89, 115, 55.
        Phil. 1:3-11: Paul's Prayer for the Philippians.
        Mt. 18:23-35: The Parable of the Unfaithful Servant.
    Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity: BWV 163, 139, 52.
        Phil. 3:17-21: Our citizenship is in heaven.
        Mt. 22:15-22: Deceitful Pharisees; the Parable of the Tribute Penny of Caesar.
    Twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity: BWV 60, 26.
        Col. 1:9-14: Paul's Prayer for the Colossians.
        Mt. 9:18-26: The Raising of Jairus' Daughter.
    Twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity: BWV 90, 116.
        1 Th. 4:13-18: The Coming of Christ and the Raising of the Dead.
        Mt. 24:15-28: The Coming of Christ, the End of the World.
    Twenty-sixth Sunday after Trinity: BWV 70.
        2 Pet. 3:3-13: The Certainty of Christ's Coming.
        Mt. 25:31-46: Jesus' Description of the Last Judgment.
    Twenty-seventh Sunday after Trinity: BWV 140.
        1 Th. 5:1-11: Preparation for the Last Judgment.
        Mt. 25:1-13: The Parable of the Ten Virgins.

FEASTS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

    The Purification (The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, 2 February): BWV 161 (also 16 Sunday after Trinity), 83, 125, 82, 157, 200, 158 (also 3rd Day of Easter).
        Mal. 3:1-4: The Lord shall suddenly come to his temple.
        Lk. 2:22-32: The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and the Song of Simeon.
    The Annunciation (25 March): BWV 182 (also Palmarum), Siehe, eine Jungfrau ist schwanger, 1.
        Is. 7:10-16: The Prophecy of the Birth of the Messiah.
        Lk. 1:26-38: The Angel Gabriel announces the birth of Jesus to Mary.
    The Visitation (2 July): BWV 147, 10, Meine Seele erhebt den Herrn.
        Is. 11:1-5: The Prophecy of the Messiah.
        Lk. 1:39-56: Elizabeth's Salutation to Mary and Mary's Song of Praise.

FEASTS OF THE SAINTS AND OTHER SPECIAL OCCASIONS

    The Nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 24): BWV 167, 7, Gelobet sei der Herr, der Israel, 30.
        Is. 40:1-5: The Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness.
        Lk. 1:57-80: The Birth of John and Zacharia's Song of Praise.
    St. Michael and All Angels (29 September): BWV 130, 19, 149, 50.
        Rev. 12:7-12: Michael's Battle with the Dragon.
        Mt. 18:1-11: The Angels of Children in Heaven.
    Reformation (31 October): BWV 76 (also 2nd Sunday after Trinity, 80, 79.
        2 Th. 2:3-8: Steadfastness against the Lawless One.
        Rev. 14:6-8: Exhortation to Fear God.

LOCAL OCCASIONS

    Dedication of an Organ: BWV 194.
    Jubilee of the 200th Anniversary of the Augsburg Confession (25- 27 June 1730): BWV 190a, 120b, XVIb (Anh. 4).
    Per ogni tempo (For Any Occasion): BWV 21, 51, ?100.


A TABLE OF OCCASIONS FOR SECULAR WORKS
    The works performed for each type of occasion are listed in relative chronological order.

    Inauguration of the New Town Council.
        Mühlhausen: BWV 71, XXIV.
    Ceremony for the University and Members of the University: XXVI, BWV 205, 207, 36b.
    Ceremony for School and Council: BWV 36c, 216a, III (Anh.18), VIII (Anh. 19).