cantata

The cantata, often described as “challenging,” was sung entirely in German.

In spite of this official success, the cantata did not win the approval of the musical authorities.

Nevertheless, Cui did not handle the young composer so severely as on the occasion of his Diploma Cantata.

On this occasion he was well beforehand with the work, and sent in the cantata to the committee by the 1st of April.

There the pupils of the Conservatorium awaited them, and sang a cantata composed by Elsner for the occasion.

This ceremony was an annual function, one of its features being the performance of the cantata which had won the music prize.