rssCornettos in Bach Cantatas
The cornetto is a lip-vibrated, wooden, finger-hole horn, usually curved and octagonal in cross section, which went out of use in the early 19th century.
During the later Baroque period, Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel used the trombone on few occasions; Bach used it in combination with the cornetto to evoke the stile antico in some of his many cantatas. The instrument was apparently held to be a close imitation of the human voice.
Gabrieli: Sonate E Canzoni / Concerto Palatino
Sound samples from Gabrieli
A cornetto recital
Italian Music For Cornets And Trombones / Concerto Palatino
Sound samples from Italian Music
Concerto Palatino Home Page with more photos
| BWV | Instrument | Voice | Cantata Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2, 3, 8 | 1 cornetto 3 trombones |
S ATB |
Christ lag in Todesbanden |
| 23.4 | 1 cornetto 3 trombones |
S ATB |
Du wahrer Gott und Davids Sohn |
| 25.1, 6 | 1 cornetto 3 trombones |
S ATB |
Es ist nichts Gesundes an meinem Leibe |
| 28.2, 6 | 1 cornetto 3 trombones |
S ATB |
Gottlob! nun geht das Jahr zu Ende |
| 64.1, 2, 4, 8 | 1 cornetto 3 trombones |
S ATB |
Sehet, welch eine Liebe |
| 68.5 | 1 cornetto 3 trombones |
S ATB |
Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt |
| 118(1) | 1 cornetto 3 trombones |
S ATB |
O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht |
| 133.1, 6 | 1 cornetto | S | Ich freue mich in dir |
| 135.6 | 1 cornetto | S | Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder |
Voice and Instrument abbreviations
Here the cornetto is placed in the brass
Here it is placed with the woodwinds
Here is some discussion of several early instruments
Cornetto at the bottom of the page
Next entry: Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her
Previous entry: Cantata BWV 106
