What songs did Bach write?

Johann Sebastian Bach, the renowned German composer of the Baroque period, composed a vast and diverse body of music, which encompasses a wide range of genres and styles. While he is particularly celebrated for his intricate instrumental works, such as concertos, suites, and fugues, Bach also wrote a significant number of vocal compositions, including songs:

a. Solo Cantatas:

- "Ich habe genug" (BWV 82)

- "Widerstehe doch der Sünde" (BWV 54)

- "Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen" (BWV 56)

b. Arias from larger vocal works:

- "Erbarme dich, mein Gott" from the St. Matthew Passion (BWV 244)

- "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" from the cantata "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben" (BWV 147)

- "Sheep May Safely Graze" from the cantata "Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd" (BWV 208)

c. Chorales:

- "Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott" (A Mighty Fortress is Our God)

- "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden" (O Sacred Head, Now Wounded)

- "Christ lag in Todesbanden" (Christ Lay in Death's Dark Prison)

d. Lieder (Songs with piano or lute accompaniment):

- "Der Tag, der ist so freudenreich"

- "Ich bin ein guter Hirte"

- "Mein gläubiges Herze"

e. Motets:

- "Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied" (Sing to the Lord a New Song)

- "Jesu, meine Freude" (Jesus, My Joy)

f. Cantatas:

- "Gott ist mein König" (BWV 71): Cantata for the 1st Sunday after Epiphany

- "Christ lag in Todesbanden" (BWV 4): Easter Cantata

- "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben" (BWV 147): Cantata for the 2nd Sunday after Trinity

These are just a few examples of the many songs that Bach wrote. His compositions display a profound understanding of vocal technique, emotional expression, and the interplay between text and music, making him one of the greatest composers of songs in the history of Western music.