A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir. The term "cantata" comes from the Italian verb "cantare," which means "to sing". The meaning of the term has changed over time, from the simple single-voice madrigal of the early 17th century to the multi-voice "cantata da camera" and the "cantata da chiesa" of the later part of that century, from the more substantial dramatic forms of the 18th century to the usually sacred-texted 19th-century cantata, which was effectively a type of short oratorio. Cantatas for use in the liturgy of church services are called church cantata or sacred cantata, while others are sometimes called secular cantata. Key features of a cantata include:
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Vocalists: Cantatas are compositions for solo vocalists and choirs.
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Instrumental accompaniment: Cantatas include instrumental accompaniment.
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Multiple movements: Cantatas typically have several movements.
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Choir: Cantatas often involve a choir.
Johann Sebastian Bach composed around 200 cantatas, several of which were written for special occasions, such as Christmas cantatas. Cantatas of that timeframe were simply understood to be sacred or secular depending on the occasion for which they were composed.
