An idea for this blog post was still sitting in my drafts folder. It’s a party in that drafts folder, so many blog posts in various stages of readiness are hanging out there! Self-imposed deadlines and self-imposed standards often lead me to decide that the post won’t be finished in time for the appropriate Sunday and that it is thus better to shelve it.

In 2020 I jotted down that it would be good to talk about gratitude in connection with Bach’s Cantata 144 Nimm was dein ist, und gehe hin! (1724) and Cantata 84 Ich bin vergnügt mit meinem Glücke (1727) for this Sunday Septuagesima, or the Third Sunday before Lent. I’m not alone in associating these cantatas with a gratitude practice. Prominent Bach scholar Michael Maul calls the soprano aria “Genügsamkeit” (Contentment) from Cantata 144 “the Buddha aria” in his Podcast about this cantata (in German).

It seems appropriate to take the draft post off the shelf today, because at the start of this weekend I went to see Wim Wenders’ movie Perfect Days. The movie celebrates living a simple life and being open to small wonders and pleasures. I loved it and it calmed me down. And it is an excellent opportunity to finally share Miriam Feuersinger’s 2022 solo album “Ich bin vergnügt …” on this blog.

For the background stories about cantatas 144 and 84, please (re)read my post from 2017.

Before I discuss Feuersinger’s recording, I should not forget to mention that the Netherlands Bach Society’s live recording of Cantata 84 was also published in 2022 and features excellent music-making by soprano Maria Keohane and oboist Martin Stadler. I love the many colors of Maria Keohane’s voice and I enjoy watching her sing because she is so obviously enjoying herself, and her singing always seems effortless.

The award-winning Solo Cantata album by Miriam Feuersinger and Capricornus Consort Basel includes a beautiful rendition of Cantata 84. Find it here on Spotify and here on YouTube. I adore Feuersinger’s clear voice and Katharina Arfken’s oboe playing. I also appreciate their decision to have the strings play the alto, tenor, and bass part in the final chorale. It is too bad there is no video recording of this, because watching Miriam Feuersinger’s energy on stage is fantastic, and enormously inspiring to me.* I have never attended a live performance of hers yet, but I am hoping to fix that on February 17 in Stuttgart and/or on April 7 in Arnstadt. And to circle back to gratitude practice, she is also an inspiring promotor of celebrating the beauty in everyday life, from quoting Albert Einstein on her concert calendar page “You can live life in two ways: As if there are no miracles at all, or as if everything you encounter is a miracle,” to her instagram account.

Wieneke Gorter, January 28, 2024.

*watch for example her performing the opening aria of Cantata 32 with the J.S. Bach Foundation here on YouTube.