Which of Bach's cantatas served as the musical basis for this Kyrie Eleison? Learn!
Who's behind the notes? Discover Johann Sebastian Bach: Master of Baroque Music
The "Kyrie Eleison" is the opening movement of Bach's Lutheran Mass in G Major (BWV 236), composed between 1737-1748. It features a contemplative fugue in Renaissance style, with vocal polyphony supported by continuo. This movement is a "parody" (reuse) of material from Cantata BWV 179, showcasing Bach's practice of reworking his sacred compositions. The Mass is part of Bach's collection of Missae breves, distinct from the larger Mass in B Minor.