The Bach Cantatas

[Mandryka]

Someone has just pointed out to me a some  inspiring  Ich Habe Genugs. This one has very sincere singing from Barry McDaniel, quite striking:

http://www.youtube.com/v/uW0ab4Nso2g http://www.youtube.com/v/xAvD94iswn0

And this one from the Southern Methodist University Orchestra has some very spontaneous sounding oboe playing

http://www.youtube.com/v/6NWgniCISr8

[Sammy]

Someone has just pointed out to me a some  inspiring  Ich Habe Genugs. This one has very sincere singing from Barry McDaniel, quite striking:

http://www.youtube.com/v/uW0ab4Nso2g http://www.youtube.com/v/xAvD94iswn0

And this one from the Southern Methodist University Orchestra has some very spontaneous sounding oboe playing

http://www.youtube.com/v/6NWgniCISr8

Thanks for the samples.  McDaniel has a fine voice, but I do wish that period instruments were employed.

[Antoine Marchand]

Anyone knows if the performances (CDs and  DVDs) by the "J. S. Bach-Stiftung" are available via some regular online store?

http://www.youtube.com/v/Y3lRdb5BSGA

[Leon]

Anyone knows if the performances (CDs and  DVDs) by the "J. S. Bach-Stiftung" are available via some regular online store?

http://www.youtube.com/v/Y3lRdb5BSGA

Looks like you can buy them directly from the Bach Foundation.

[Antoine Marchand]

Looks like you can buy them directly from the Bach Foundation.

Thanks, Arnold, but I was searching for a regular CD store.

BTW, very interesting quote in your signature. 

[Mandryka]

.
The recent discussion about Harnoncourt's jolts made me play some records by him and I think I've found something which really shows well his style at it's most uncompromising.
It's in the Bach cantatas, and it concerns two cantatas, BWV 99 and BWV 100. These cantatas open with exactly the same music, a chorale -- Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan  (is that right? – I don't have a score to check that the music is identical.)

Now in Haroncourt's big set in BWV 99 Harnoncourt conducts, and in BWV 100 it's Leonhardt's turn. What a difference, and what a clear example of how far apart these two men had become. Harnoncourt is hestitant, jolting, the musical lines juxtaposed so as to hinder forward motion ;  Leonhardt  is joyfully flowing.

Here's NH

http://www.youtube.com/v/WsvszDQFiM8

And here's GL

http://open.spotify.com/track/1K6tv4eydBLZ4VrM9lFdA1   (There's no way to embed this as far as know)

The text seems to support Leonhardt more that Harnoncourt, there's not much by way of doubt and hesitation there,  though I must say I like personally the music that Harnoncourt makes:

What God doth, that is rightly done,
His will is just forever;
Whatever course he sets my life,
I will trust him with calmness.
He is my God,
Who in distress
Knows well how to support me.
So I yield him all power

[jlaurson]

.
The recent discussion about Harnoncourt's jolts made me play some records by him and I think I've found something which really shows well his style at it's most uncompromising.
It's in the Bach cantatas, and it concerns two cantatas, BWV 99 and BWV 100. These cantatas open with exactly the same music, a chorale -- Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan  (is that right? – I don't have a score to check that the music is identical.)

Now in Haroncourt's big set in BWV 99 Harnoncourt conducts, and in BWV 100 it's Leonhardt's turn. What a difference, and what a clear example of how far apart these two men had become. Harnoncourt is hestitant, jolting, the musical lines juxtaposed so as to hinder forward motion ;  Leonhardt  is joyfully flowing.

Except that the execution of Leonhardt's version is milk-curdlingly awful, in light of today's standards. Sounds like the horns are completely drunk.

[milk]

I decided to brighten my xmas by plunging into Bach's cantatas for the first time. So I bought a smattering of recordings:

Herreweghe 131, 73, 105, 39, 93, 107
Leonhardt/Harnoncourt 79-82, 170-173
Suzuki 147, 21
and
Kuijken 17, 35, 164, 179

The thing that I don't understand about the Kuijken album is that so much of the music is Vivaldi's 4 seasons (unless I'm losing my mind).
I know Bach wrote keyboard concertos after Vivaldi but, when I research these cantatas, I find no mention of them being also after Vivaldi.
Can someone enlighten me?

[Que]

The thing that I don't understand about the Kuijken album is that so much of the music is Vivaldi's 4 seasons (unless I'm losing my mind).
I know Bach wrote keyboard concertos after Vivaldi but, when I research these cantatas, I find no mention of them being also after Vivaldi.
Can someone enlighten me?

Interesting. Could you specify the cantatas concerned?

Q

[jlaurson]

Kuijken 17, 35, 164, 179

The thing that I don't understand about the Kuijken album is that so much of the music is Vivaldi's 4 seasons (unless I'm losing my mind).
I know Bach wrote keyboard concertos after Vivaldi but, when I research these cantatas, I find no mention of them being also after Vivaldi.
Can someone enlighten me?

A.) Nothing more fitting than Bach cantatas around Christmas (preferably, but necessarily the Advent/Christmas ones).
B.) It's this recording he's talking about:



I'll listen to it in a bit, but off the top of my head I'm not sure where the Vivaldi connection comes from. Unless you have the wrong CD in your case.

[milk]

Interesting. Could you specify the cantatas concerned?

Q

I'm listening to the recording: Bach, J.S.: Cantatas, Vol. 5 - Bwv 17, 35, 164, 179
"Starting from Siehe Zu, Dass Deine Gottesfurcht Nicht Heuchelei Sei, BWV 179 Recitative: Wer So Von Innen Wie Von Aussen Ist"
That and the rest of the Cantata is Vivaldi's "Spring." I thought this was a mistake of Itunes, but when I sample it on Presto Classical I get the same results:

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Accent/ACC25305#download

I don't know what to make of this. Maybe this is some kind of weird goof? 

[jlaurson]

I'm listening to the recording: Bach, J.S.: Cantatas, Vol. 5 - Bwv 17, 35, 164, 179
"Starting from Siehe Zu, Dass Deine Gottesfurcht Nicht Heuchelei Sei, BWV 179 Recitative: Wer So Von Innen Wie Von Aussen Ist"
That and the rest of the Cantata is Vivaldi's "Spring." I thought this was a mistake of Itunes, but when I sample it on Presto Classical I get the same results:

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Accent/ACC25305#download

I don't know what to make of this. Maybe this is some kind of weird goof?

Certainly not the case with the CD... everything alright there; am listening to it right now. Do you have a hard copy??

[milk]

A.) Nothing more fitting than Bach cantatas around Christmas (preferably, but necessarily the Advent/Christmas ones).
B.) It's this recording he's talking about:



I'll listen to it in a bit, but off the top of my head I'm not sure where the Vivaldi connection comes from. Unless you have the wrong CD in your case.

I'm not sure I have the right ones for Christmas above. But, I got started on this after listening to Bach's Christmas Oratorios. I was having too good a time (I've been delving into the B minor Mass and St. Matthew's Passion for a while). Does it seem like I have a pretty good collection to start out with? I don't know what I've been waiting for.   

[milk]

Certainly not the case with the CD... everything alright there; am listening to it right now. Do you have a hard copy??

I downloaded it from Itunes. But when you listen to samples here

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Accent/ACC25305#download

you get the same result starting with the 4th track on BWV 179.
Oh well. Some kind of mix up with the download release? OK. Sorry to trouble anyone.

[jlaurson]

I'm not sure I have the right ones for Christmas above. But, I got started on this after listening to Bach's Christmas Oratorios. I was having too good a time (I've been delving into the B minor Mass and St. Matthew's Passion for a while). Does it seem like I have a pretty good collection to start out with? I don't know what I've been waiting for.

Herreweghe 131, 73, 105, 39, 93, 107
Leonhardt/Harnoncourt 79-82, 170-173
Suzuki 147, 21
and
Kuijken 17, 35, 164, 179

By and large, no... re: Christmas, except for 171. But you certainly have picked well from the cream of the crop of Bach Cantata conductors and got a very fine sample to work off.
I know Leonhardt & Harnoncourt, pioneers, veterans, and rightly revered, have a large following... but the quality of HIP performances has simply improved by leaps and bounds since their cycle... so there's the only hint of a weakness. I don't at all think that the arguments for the one-voice-per-part proponents -- such as Kuijken has become for the one-year cycle of which your disc is a part -- are compelling. But the proof of the pudding lies in the listening of the music and I absolutely love what he's doing on those ACCENT CDs.
Suzuki is always neat, in every sense of the word, and has improved considerably, to my ears, over the last twenty or fifteen volumes. For all-round musicality, you can't beat Herreweghe, my favorite in Bach... although I should also point to Koopman. Rarely if ever my favorite in any one particular cantata, but over all and on average my favorite complete Bach Cantata cycle.
Finally I think that Karl Richter always has a place in a good Bach Cantata collection; it's a bit of a throwback, stylistically, from the ones you have picked, but it oozes the same musicality Herreweghe does, with a greater hint of feel-good heft.

Advent & Christmas with Bach

Advent

BWV 61: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
BWV 62: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
BWV 36: Schwingt freudig euch empor

BWV 70a: Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!  (see also: BWV 170)

BWV 186a: Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht (see also BWV 186)

BWV 132: Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn!
BWV 147a: Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben (see also BWV 147)


Christmas

BWV 63: Christen, ätzet diesen Tag
BWV 91: Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ
BWV 110: Unser Mund sei voll Lachens
BWV 197a: Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe (not complete)
BWV 191: Gloria in excelsis Deo

BWV 40: Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes
BWV 121: Christum wir sollen loben schon
BWV 57: Selig ist der Mann

BWV 64: Sehet, welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater erzeiget
BWV 133: Ich freue mich in dir
BWV 151: Süßer Trost, mein Jesus kömmt

BWV 152: Tritt auf die Glaubensbahn
BWV 122: Das neugeborne Kindelein

BWV 28: Gottlob! nun geht das Jahr zu Ende


New Year

BWV 190: Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied (not complete)
BWV 41: Jesu, nun sei gepreiset
BWV 16: Herr Gott, dich loben wir
BWV 171: Gott, wie dein Name, so ist auch dein Ruhm

BWV 153: Schau, lieber Gott, wie meine Feind
BWV 58: Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid

Epiphany

BWV 65: Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen
BWV 123: Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen

That... and of course the Christmas Oratorio's six cantatas.

[milk]

Herreweghe 131, 73, 105, 39, 93, 107
Leonhardt/Harnoncourt 79-82, 170-173
Suzuki 147, 21
and
Kuijken 17, 35, 164, 179

By and large, no... re: Christmas, except for 171. But you certainly have picked well from the cream of the crop of Bach Cantata conductors and got a very fine sample to work off.
I know Leonhardt & Harnoncourt, pioneers, veterans, and rightly revered, have a large following... but the quality of HIP performances has simply improved by leaps and bounds since their cycle... so there's the only hint of a weakness. I don't at all think that the arguments for the one-voice-per-part proponents -- such as Kuijken has become for the one-year cycle of which your disc is a part -- are compelling. But the proof of the pudding lies in the listening of the music and I absolutely love what he's doing on those ACCENT CDs.
Suzuki is always neat, in every sense of the word, and has improved considerably, to my ears, over the last twenty or fifteen volumes. For all-round musicality, you can't beat Herreweghe, my favorite in Bach... although I should also point to Koopman. Rarely if ever my favorite in any one particular cantata, but over all and on average my favorite complete Bach Cantata cycle.
Finally I think that Karl Richter always has a place in a good Bach Cantata collection; it's a bit of a throwback, stylistically, from the ones you have picked, but it oozes the same musicality Herreweghe does, with a greater hint of feel-good heft.

Advent & Christmas with Bach

Advent

BWV 61: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
BWV 62: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
BWV 36: Schwingt freudig euch empor

BWV 70a: Wachet! betet! betet! wachet!  (see also: BWV 170)

BWV 186a: Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht (see also BWV 186)

BWV 132: Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn!
BWV 147a: Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben (see also BWV 147)


Christmas

BWV 63: Christen, ätzet diesen Tag
BWV 91: Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ
BWV 110: Unser Mund sei voll Lachens
BWV 197a: Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe (not complete)
BWV 191: Gloria in excelsis Deo

BWV 40: Darzu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes
BWV 121: Christum wir sollen loben schon
BWV 57: Selig ist der Mann

BWV 64: Sehet, welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater erzeiget
BWV 133: Ich freue mich in dir
BWV 151: Süßer Trost, mein Jesus kömmt

BWV 152: Tritt auf die Glaubensbahn
BWV 122: Das neugeborne Kindelein

BWV 28: Gottlob! nun geht das Jahr zu Ende


New Year

BWV 190: Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied (not complete)
BWV 41: Jesu, nun sei gepreiset
BWV 16: Herr Gott, dich loben wir
BWV 171: Gott, wie dein Name, so ist auch dein Ruhm

BWV 153: Schau, lieber Gott, wie meine Feind
BWV 58: Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid

Epiphany

BWV 65: Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen
BWV 123: Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen

That... and of course the Christmas Oratorio's six cantatas.

Thanks for the comments. I just want to make sure I have a good mix of cantatas to start out with. Perhaps I'll grab some more from your list just to keep up with holidays. I'll be referring back to your comments as I pick up more. Much appreciated as always. Happy Holidays!

[jlaurson]

Thanks for the comments. I just want to make sure I have a good mix of cantatas to start out with. Perhaps I'll grab some more from your list just to keep up with holidays. I'll be referring back to your comments as I pick up more. Much appreciated as always. Happy Holidays!

This may also be of help:

Selected Cantata recordings with wonderful choruses:

incl. BWV 6 & 68
Christophe Coin & Chœur de Chambre Accentus

incl. BWV 6, 68, & 126
Ton Koopman & ABO Choir

incl. BWV 39 & 93
Philippe Herreweghe & Collegium Vocale Gent

Oh, of course, the motets! If you don't have them already...

Herreweghe, Jacobs, and my favorite by some measure: Kuijken (on Accent Plus)(http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2008/12/best-recordings-of-2008.html) are all excellent.

http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2009/05/ich-hatte-viel-bekummernis-bach.html

http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2008/12/bach-cantatas-on-record-james-bowman.html

http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2005/03/weinen-klagenherreweghes-new-bach.html

http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2005/08/dip-your-ears-no-40.html

http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2007/09/dip-your-ears-83.html

http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2009/12/best-recordings-of-2009-9.html

http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2009/04/reviewed-not-necessarily-recommended_05.html

http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2007/09/dip-your-ears-83.html

http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2010/12/best-recordings-of-2010-7.html

http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2005/06/dip-your-ears-no-35.html

http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2009/12/best-recordings-of-2008-almost-list.html

[Marc]

Hey Jens!

Are you deliberately NOT mentioning other member's recommendations .... like mine?

That is NOT very Christmas!



Anyway: you are forgiven.
(It is Christmas, isn't it?)

Two of my personal faves:

Cantatas BWV 8, 125 & 138
(Herreweghe)



http://www.amazon.com/J-S-Bach-Cantatas-BWV-125/dp/B0011BF570

And, though not really a cantata disc (plz, forgive me):

Magnificat BWV 243, Missa BWV 235 & organ works
(Pierlot)



http://www.amazon.com/Bach-Magnificat-Ricercar-Consort/dp/B002P9KAHM/

And:

Merry Christmas!

0:)

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Selected Cantata recordings with wonderful choruses:

incl. BWV 6 & 68
Christophe Coin & Chœur de Chambre Accentus

Definitely agree with the Herreweghe recs. But it's nice to see someone else rec something from Coin's trio of discs. Crisp, airy, devout, and oh-so-soothing.

[kishnevi]

Quickly jumping in to mention Gardiner and his Pilgrimage series, which was performed/recorded (and at least the SDG portion released) in order of the liturgical season, thereby grouping each Sunday's cantatas (or Feast day when appropriate) together on one disc.  Herreweghe did this for Christmas and Advent, but not for most of the rest of the year.  (Koopman did as Gardiner did, but I don't have anything from his cycle(s).  Any other conductor organize their recordings this way?)

I believe Gardiner re-issued all the Christmas cantatas in a single set just in time for this Christmas.