Marriage of Johann Lorenz Stauber
Friday 5 June 2026

An extra cantata day outside the liturgical rhytm. Der Herr denket an uns, BWV 196, is a very early Bach cantata, dating from his Mühlhausen period. The only manuscript that remains from the cantata dates from 1730, so the occasion for which it was written required some research. Luckily for us, several Bach biographers have done this work.

The nineteenth century German Bach biographer Philipp Spitta makes a very strong case to point to the wedding of Johann Lorenz Stauber on June 5th 1708. He was the pastor who officiated Bach''s wedding to Maria Barbara Bach only eight months earlier. Also, the bride of Stauber, Regina Wedemann, was an aunt of Maria Barbara, so the link is very clear.

It was a small celebration in a small church with a small balcony, and that is reflected in the setting: only four vocalists, violins and continuo are required.

Music for today

• Der Herr denket an uns, BWV 196
  (first performance 5 June 1708, Mühlhausen period)