The cantata (It. cantata, choral piece with several movements, as distinct from the purely instrumental sonata), which was developed in Italy in the 17th century, involves an alternation of arias and recitatives. It achieved central importance in Protestant church music in the 17th and 18th centuries, especially in combination with biblical passages and hymns (also songs), though after 1700 increasingly with free texts as well.

As an exposition of texts with musical figures, symbols, impressions, and stimuli, the cantata has a place in worship alongside preaching. The compositi…