Cantate

Cantate is the plural of cantata in Italian, used in musicology to refer to cantatas—vocal works typically for one or more singers with instrumental accompaniment. The cantata as a genre originated in 17th-century Italy as a secular vocal form for courtly entertainments, combining recitative and aria with occasional dialogue or ensemble sections. In the 18th century, sacred cantatas became central in German-speaking regions, most famously in the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, who wrote extensive cycles of church cantatas for Leipzig's services. These cantatas typically set religious texts in German and arranged music in a sequence of recitatives, arias, and choruses, though secular cantatas remained common throughout Europe.

Cantatas are distinguished from staged opera and from larger oratorios by their shorter form, lack of drama, and emphasis on musical expression of a text. They can be secular or sacred, with instrumental emphasis ranging from basso continuo to concertato textures.

Notable composers associated with cantatas include Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, and Scarlatti, among others. The cantata tradition declined in the Classical era as new forms emerged but experienced revivals in the 19th and 20th centuries, with modern performers often using period instruments and historically informed practices.