What is cantata in different spheres of activity?

What is a cantata - a genre or a single work? And what sphere of human creativity does it belong to? Literature? To music? Often cantata are confused with oratorio, sonata or madrigal. In this article we will consider when the genre originated and how it developed. Let us note the well-known examples of cantatas, we will see how from a purely church work, aesthetic design of the sermon, it has turned into an independent, musical, performed in the philharmonic. 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 troubadours it was practiced to perform verses with a recitative for musical accompaniment. The recitation had to concern serious topics - historical events, spiritual reflections. Later the text, performed solo, began to go down to music. In fact, the genre crystallized in Italy, at the end of the XVI century. Even the name carries the Romanesque roots: the verb "cantare" means "to sing". In the time of the High Renaissance, it was, above all, a musical work. But what is 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 the poems still were, the cantata began to be distinguished from the sonata - a simple instrumental composition.

Development of the genre

Like any other creation of human genius, the cantata has been developing steadily. Initially, the music genre included only one vocal number, performed solo. This work began to be called a madrigal. Since the first half of the 17th century the opera has greatly influenced the development of the genre. The definition of what a cantata is is more complex. The composition of the musical work began to include several solo numbers, as well as arias, recitatives, duets, chorus and orchestral accompaniment. The profound content of the serious nature of the text and music remained unchanged characterization of the genre. Therefore, cantatas were never performed in theaters. This work does not require any scenery or stage costumes. It also does not have 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 XVI century, the church authorities decided to strengthen the aesthetic side of the services to attract believers. Over time, the Gregorian Chapel - a chorus of singers who performed works without musical accompaniment - replaced the organ. His music began to form oratorios - from the Latin word "orare", which means "to pray." These works were designed to emotionally emphasize the text of the sermon of a priest or read passages from the Bible. Since then, as G.F. Handel wrote a concert oratorio, these musical works began to be written and on secular topics. It should be said that the cantatas were also included in the aesthetic decoration of Catholic and Protestant worship services. After all, their content could be both secular and spiritual. So what is the oratorio and cantata, what is their main difference? It's 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.

Cantata of Bach

The development of the genre was greatly influenced by the Carissima, and some researchers even tend to regard it as the creator of this syncretic art form that connects musical performance and a poem. But those 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. Texts of his cantata Bach derived from the works of 16-18 centuries. The spiritual heritage of German poetry for such a long period included both Protestant orthodoxy, Franciscan mysticism, pietism, and even secular motifs of the Baroque era. What is a cantata in Bach's work? This is a complex vocal-instrumental composition, consisting of several parts, each of which has its own rhythm, tempo and tact. The ingenious composer wrote music for these works without breaking away from the sacred texts. We do not understand, for example, "Passion according to Matthew," unless we read the text of the arias. At the same time, music allows us to rethink the biblical story, to feel it deeper.

Literary genre

We have already considered what a cantata is in music. But since it was originally a syncretic form of creativity, it's easy to assume that someday it will be performed without musical accompaniment. The seriousness of the subject and the exaltation of events or the hero brought the cantata closer together in poetry with an ode. As a literary work, it resembles a madrigal or a panegyric. Often the cantata was written "in case" - to ascension to the throne or anniversary of significant events. In the literature, the development of this genre is also observed. So, over time, from the category of "court poetry", the cantata moved to lighter and more relaxed forms. Sometimes she even acquires the features of love lyrics (let us recall Pushkin's Leda). But, however, the mainstream leaves behind the cantata a serious and pathetic theme. Cantates wrote Glazunov to the centenary of Pushkin's birth, Balakirev - to the discovery of the monument to Glinka. In the era of Stalin's Empire style, this genre was also very popular. So N. Myaskovsky wrote a cantata "Kirov with us" for 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, the orchestra, choir, 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.