vesteel
3 HN mentions · mentioned in 3 months, 2022–2024
25:33 · 498K views · May 1, 2017
A performance of Bach's Coffee Cantata (BWV 211) conducted by Ton Koopman, with English subtitles. It is a comic secular cantata about a father and his coffee-loving daughter.
Shared as a fun example that Bach wrote secular, humorous music, usually in coffee threads.
3 comments from Hacker News
What do you mean modern? And American? Such music has a long history. For instance Mozart's "Leck mich im Arsch" from 1782 [1]. The title is German for "Lick me in the ass". Or Bach's cantata "Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht" (German for "Be still, stop chattering") which glorifies addiction to coffee [2]. (Turn on closed captioning to see an English translation). [1] [LINK] [2] this video
On a cultural note regarding the threads, the moralistic make do with what god gives you side and the yay drink coffee and do stuff and be happy side have been around a long time. A little Bach Cantata about a grumpy old dad and his coffee drinking daughter: this video
The style has endured mostly in sacred music, so I get the association. They aren't all church-y though! The Coffee Cantata, for example: this video