The Bach Cantatas Website – 25 Years

January 6, 2026

On 30 December 2025, the Bach Cantatas Website (BCW) celebrates its 25th anniversary.

What began in the year 2000 as a modest personal project has grown into one of the most comprehensive online resources dedicated to the life, works, and legacy of Johann Sebastian Bach. Over a quarter of a century, the BCW has evolved continuously, guided by one principle: to serve Bach lovers, performers, scholars, and listeners worldwide with reliable, detailed, and freely accessible information.

Today, the Bach Cantatas Website is a comprehensive site covering all aspects of J.S. Bach's cantatas and his other vocal works and many of his instrumental works, as well as arrangements & transcriptions of Bach's works. The BCW contains for most works: detailed discographies, discussions, texts and translations, scores, commentaries, references, music examples... Performers of Bach’s works: their biographies, Bach discographies... Poets & composers associated with Bach: their biographies, Bach connection... Other resources: the Lutheran church year, chorale texts & melodies, books and movies on Bach, concerts, Bach festivals, guide to Bach tour... Essays, discussions, and source material contributed by experts and enthusiasts alike. The BCW is an international collective project.

The website has always remained:
Independent
Non-commercial
Freely accessible
Maintained and curated with long-term continuity in mind

This anniversary is therefore not only a personal milestone, but also a celebration of the international BCW community — contributors, correspondents, performers, scholars, and readers — whose engagement and support have shaped the site over the years.

I would like to thank everyone who has contributed information, corrections, insights, and encouragement since the beginning. Your involvement has been essential to the BCW’s longevity and quality.

As the BCW enters its second quarter-century, it will continue to develop carefully and thoughtfully, preserving its accumulated knowledge while remaining open to new research and discoveries.

Thank you for being part of the Bach Cantatas Website journey.

Aryeh Oron
Founder and Editor
The Bach Cantatas Website
https://www.bach-cantatas.com/

Paul Farseth wrote (January 6, 2026):
Thank you, Aryeh, for your amazing, committed, heroic work in making this project an ongoing, enduring, successful resource!

Thierry van Bastelaer wrote (January 6, 2026):
Hear, hear! I shudder at the thought of where the field of Bach cantatas would be without Aryeh’s tireless work. Thank you, Aryeh !

Jeffrey Solow wrote (January 6, 2026):
Not just the Cantatas - Aryeh’s website is a major contribution to the research, knowledge, and appreciation of all of Bach’s music!

Classical Music Dog wrote (January 10, 2026):
Thank you for your excellent, diligent work. I reference the website quite a bit as I explore Bach's cantatas and classical music. It is a great resource.