Aug28

unfit for consumption. but so good.

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Johann Bach is remembered as one of the world’s greatest composers, known for orchestral compositions such as the Brandenburg Concertos. But one of Bach’s lesser-known works is Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht (“Be Still, Stop Chattering”) — a humorous ode to coffee popularly known as the Coffee Canata. Written sometime in the 1730s, Bach’s mini comic opera makes light of fears at the time that coffee was an immoral beverage entirely unfit for consumption. In the 18th century, coffee shops in Europe were known to be boisterous places of conversation, unchaperoned meeting places for young romantics, and the birthplaces of political plots. A reported lover of coffee, Bach wrote a 10-movement piece that pokes fun at the uproar over coffee. The opera tells the story of a father attempting to persuade his daughter to give up her coffee addiction so that she might get married, but in the end, she just becomes a coffee-imbibing bride.

“If I couldn’t three times a day,

be allowed to drink my little cup of coffee, in my anguish,

I will turn into a shriveled-up roast goat.“

-Johann Sebastian Bach

*thank you for putting this to music, johann, i feel the same.

 

 

 

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source credits: interesting facts, flypaper, wikipedia, etsy mug

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69 responses »

  6. amused me to no end. why? because I worked for an international coffee/chocolate HO and they sponsored the Coffee Cantate in theopera house….. it was very light, amusing and fun! Not what we are used to our dear and adored friend JSB! And as the certified coffee addict I am (I travel with an espresso machine if it must be!!!) I can only agree with our greatest composer this side of the ocean.

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