Founded in 1850 to collect, edit, and publish all the known works of J. S. Bach, the renowned Bach-Gesellschaft devoted fifty years to its monumental task and produced the most accurate editions of Bach's music. At a much lower cost than the fantastically expensive original publication, this volume reproduces in full vocal and instrumental score eleven cantatas from the reliable Bach-Gesellschaft volumes.
Chosen on the basis of frequency of performance, teaching value, and sheer greatness of music, these eleven cantatas are: "Christ lag in Todesbanden," No. 4; "Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen," No. 12; "Ich hatte viel Bekümmerniss," No. 21; "Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen," No. 51; "Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen," No. 56; "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland," No. 61; "Jesu, der du meine Seele," No, 78; "Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott," No. 80; "Ich habe genug," No. 82; "Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit," No. 106; and "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme," No. 140.
A new supplement presents the eleven German texts in libretto form (Verse, without repeats) and a facing literal line-by-line translation by Stanley Appelbaum. The musical notation is large and clear, making it easy to follow in any study situation.

Reprinted from various volumes of Johann Sebastian Bach's Werke, Bach-Gesellschaft, 1851–1881.