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Johann Sebastian Bach - "Coffee Cantata" BWV 211 (English Subtitles)

vesteelCited 3× on HN, 2022–2024
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music · general · evergreen · 2022–2024 on HN

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

@lanstin2024-07 · in “Caffeine suppresses cerebral grey matter responses to chronic sleep restriction”

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

@MengerSponge2024-02 · in “Bach’s Cantata Calendar”

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

@tzs2022-07 · in “The popularity of country music in rural sub Saharan Africa”

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