Launching on Monday 2 March 2026, join us for this 4-week choral course to learn two of Johann Sebastian Bach’s best-loved cantatas.
What we will learn
In this course, we will learn and record two magnificent cantatas by Bach:
BWV 140 - Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (“Sleepers Wake”), and
BWV 147 - Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben (“Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life”), which includes the well-known chorale often called Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.
These cantatas are joyful, elegant, and full of expressive depth. Originally composed for church services in Leipzig, they reflect Bach’s masterful ability to blend rich harmony, lyrical melody, and lively rhythm.
Each work contains a mix of musical forms typical of the Baroque cantata: chorales, recitatives and arias. In this course, we will focus on the choral movements, where the voices come together to create powerful, resonant music that is both technically rewarding and spiritually uplifting.
Whether you’re new to Bach or returning to these familiar masterpieces, this course offers a chance to learn and perform them in detail, with expert guidance and supportive resources.
About the composer
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential composers in Western music history. His work is known for its intricate counterpoint (the art of weaving multiple musical lines together), deep spirituality, and extraordinary emotional range. More than 250 years after his death, his music continues to inspire performers and audiences alike.
Bach wrote hundreds of works for both sacred and secular settings, including large-scale masterpieces such as the Mass in B minor, the St John Passion, and over 200 cantatas. His music asks for precision, clarity, and attention to detail, but it gives back in kind, offering singers and listeners moments of profound beauty, joy, and reflection.
A little about the pieces
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (BWV 140) is based on the Lutheran hymn “Sleepers Wake!” and draws from the biblical parable of the wise and foolish virgins waiting for the arrival of the bridegroom - a symbol of spiritual readiness.
Bach sets the well-known chorale melody in three different movements, each time weaving it into the surrounding music in a unique and expressive way.
Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben (BWV 147) is one of Bach’s most beloved cantatas, especially famous for its final chorales, which include the familiar melody widely known as Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.
Originally written for the Feast of the Visitation (a celebration of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth), the cantata explores the connection between faith, thought, and action - how belief is expressed not just in words, but in daily life.
Hear these cantatas performed here:
Our teaching and resources
Our online courses are designed to be flexible and welcoming. You will get:
A full choir rehearsal each week of the course, led by our Musical Director, Ben England
A sectional rehearsal for your voice part (soprano, alto, tenor or bass) each week, with the option to attend any others you like - learn and record as many voice parts as you like, or just come along to enjoy the music and live chat
Rehearsal tracks recorded by professional singers and musicians - for this course by the fantastic Fieri Consort and organist Richard Gowers
The option to record and submit your own recordings, which will be combined with singers around the world to create a final mixed performance
At the end of the course, our global recording will be premiered on YouTube as a concert - a celebration of what we have learned and created together.
You don’t need any previous choral experience to take part in our courses - just a love of singing and a way to get online.
Our innovative learning tools mean you will learn this stunning music in a depth you don’t get with any other choir.
ℹ️ Find out more about how Choir of the Earth works here.
Be part of it
Our course launch session on Monday 2 March 2026 will be open to all, so please come along to hear more about the music and how the course will work.
If you would like to sing these wonderful Bach cantatas with Choir of the Earth, simply sign up as a member below. Sign up for an annual membership to enjoy the rest of our 2025/26 programme too, plus save 10% across the year.
We hope to sing with you soon!
Hear Choir of the Earth perform more of J.S. Bach’s work:
Disclaimer: While we make every effort to ensure that courses proceed on the dates and with the content advertised, unforeseen circumstances may require changes on occasion. We endeavour to minimise such alterations, but we reserve the right to make adjustments if necessary.