Who's behind the notes? Discover Johann Sebastian Bach: Master of Baroque Music
The Sanctus in D major, BWV 238, is a sacred choral composition by Johann Sebastian Bach. It was composed in 1723, during his first year as Thomaskantor in Leipzig. The piece is scored for mixed chorus (SATB), cornetto, three trombones, strings, and continuo. It is a setting of the Sanctus text, a part of the Eucharistic prayer in the Mass. Unlike his later Mass in B minor, this was written for use in Lutheran services in Leipzig, where Latin liturgical texts were still used on high holidays. The music is characterized by its festive and majestic character, fitting for the "Holy, holy, holy" text.