Best 100 cantata releases

A cantata is a vocal composition with instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir. The term originally referred to a secular vocal piece with instrumental accompaniment, but later came to be used for a sacred piece as well. Cantatas were popular in the Baroque period, particularly in Germany, where they were used as part of the church service. The form generally features solo voices, a choir, and instrumental accompaniment, and often includes recitatives, arias, and choruses. Some of the most famous composers of cantatas include Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel.