(non Bach) baroque cantatas

71 dB · April 09, 2007, 03:44:38 AM

German-Danish organist Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707) was a major influence to Bach and to my understanding much bigger than Vivaldi. Buxtehude can be seen as the most important German composer (and musical link) between Schütz and Bach. Buxtehude was an influence to Handel too. Handel's cantatas aren't that remarkable vocal music imo, his oratorios and operas are.

Prematurely deceased Nikolaus Bruhns (1665-1697) was Buxtehude's most talented apprentice. Bach admired the cantatas of Bruhns (among the most beautiful and effective music I have heard in my life!) and used them as the model of his own cantatas. In my eyes Bruhns was a 17th century Mozart, a genius that would be praised as one of the greatest baroque composers had he not died so young and had more of his music survived to us (only 12 cantatas and half-dosen organ pieces left, all chamber music sadly gone).

Harry · April 09, 2007, 07:22:01 AM

Really a excellent start my friend, read it with interest.

SonicMan46 · April 09, 2007, 07:38:56 AM

71 dB - thanks for starting this non-Bach Cantata thread - I may have just a few by Telemann, as mentioned in the other thread, but will check -

71 dB · April 09, 2007, 09:12:35 AM

Quote from: Harry on April 09, 2007, 07:22:01 AM
Really a excellent start my friend, read it with interest.

Thanks Harry!

Quote from: SonicMan on April 09, 2007, 07:38:56 AM
71 dB - thanks for starting this non-Bach Cantata thread - I may have just a few by Telemann, as mentioned in the other thread, but will check -

You are welcome SonicMan! I need to explore Telemann's cantatas (couple of times I have considered some discs...)

SonicMan46 · April 09, 2007, 10:41:12 AM

Quote from: 71 dB on April 09, 2007, 09:12:35 AM
........ I need to explore Telemann's cantatas (couple of times I have considered some discs...)

Currently own Telemann's Festive & Christmas Cantatas, shown below (left & middle) - believe these were BRO purchases; however, I just put in an Amazon order today for the 3-CD set on the Brilliant label (not sure if these overlap at all w/ the others - I doubt it knowing GPT's output!) - really cheap and a great review on Music Web - just click on the image -

71 dB · April 09, 2007, 11:17:57 AM

Thanks SonicMan! I added the Brilliant Box to my wishlist.

Harry · April 09, 2007, 11:34:04 AM

Quote from: 71 dB on April 09, 2007, 11:17:57 AM
Thanks SonicMan! I added the Brilliant Box to my wishlist.

Its good and inexpensive.

Justin Ignaz Franz Bieber · April 09, 2007, 12:44:32 PM

Harry · April 10, 2007, 12:52:57 AM

The CPO recording is really a good one!

Don't know the Naxos recording, could anyone elaborate?

val · April 10, 2007, 04:04:03 AM

I love Händel Cantata "Lucrezia", or Vivaldi "Nisi Dominus" and "Longe mala umbrae terrores".

Or Clerembault's "Médée".

And above all, assuming we can call it a Cantata, François Couperin's "Leçons des Tenébres": a sublime masterpiece.

71 dB · April 10, 2007, 04:13:37 AM

Quote from: Harry on April 10, 2007, 12:52:57 AM
The CPO recording is really a good one!

Good to know Harry!

Quote from: Harry on April 10, 2007, 12:52:57 AM
Don't know the Naxos recording, could anyone elaborate?

I have it. Very very good! 10/10 in Classics Today

Quote from: val on April 10, 2007, 04:04:03 AM
Or Clerembault's "Médée".

And above all, assuming we can call it a Cantata, François Couperin's "Leçons des Tenébres": a sublime masterpiece.

Louis-Nicolas Clérambault (1676-1749) was an outstanding French cantata composer.

Clérambault - Four Cantatas
Ensemble Amalia (Opus111)

Rameau's cantatas are wonderful too (what else can we expect from this composer?)

Rameau - Complete Cantatas
New Chamber Opera Ensemble/Gary Cooper (ASV)

François Couperin's "Leçons des Tenébres" is stunningly beautiful but not a cantata.

Harry · April 10, 2007, 04:17:29 AM

Quote from: 71 dB on April 10, 2007, 04:13:37 AM
Good to know Harry!

I have it. Very very good! 10/10 in Classics Today

Thanks, also in the bag then!

SonicMan46 · April 10, 2007, 06:50:52 AM

Quote from: biber fan on April 09, 2007, 12:44:32 PM

Just ordered a 'bunch' of Cantata CDs over the weekend, including the one by Pachelbel - received excellent reviews, now substantiated by Harry & you - looking forward to its appearance in my mailbox soon!

sunnyside_up · April 11, 2007, 08:36:55 AM

I bought this double CD last year - there are many works from the Bach family archives on it, including a few wonderful cantatas...particularly the works of Johann Christoph Bach (1642-1703) who was described by J.S.Bach as "the great and expressive composer" and by C.P.E. as "strong both in the invention of beautiful ideas and in the expression of the meaning of words".

71 dB · April 13, 2007, 04:11:06 AM

Quote from: sunnyside_up on April 11, 2007, 08:36:55 AM
I bought this double CD last year - there are many works from the Bach family archives on it, including a few wonderful cantatas...particularly the works of Johann Christoph Bach (1642-1703) who was described by J.S.Bach as "the great and expressive composer" and by C.P.E. as "strong both in the invention of beautiful ideas and in the expression of the meaning of words".

I have had that set for some years now. Johann Michael Bach's (1648-1694) music reminds Buxtehude's style and I like it a lot.

Josquin des Prez · April 13, 2007, 04:38:09 AM

Quote from: 71 dB on April 09, 2007, 03:44:38 AM
German-Danish organist Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707) was a major influence to Bach and to my understanding much bigger than Vivaldi. Buxtehude can be seen as the most important German composer (and musical link) between Schütz and Bach.

The Cantus Coln disc is amazing. My favored Baroque cantatas after those of Bach. But don't forget the Membra Jesu nostri, a cycle of seven cantatas each dedicated to a part of the crucified body of Jesus. It's the closets thing we have to a large scale choral work by Buxtehude (his masses and oratorios not having survived).

sunnyside_up · April 13, 2007, 04:41:39 AM

I agree with you, 71 dB, I enjoy all I've heard of Buxtehude so far. I have the Naxos Sacred Cantatas CD mentioned upthread by biber fan, it's a lovely recording. Must seek out more of this wonderful music. The Cantus Colln one looks like one to get (I have their "Actus Tragicus" CD of Bach Cantatas 4, 106, 196 and 12 and I love the clarity and beauty of their sound).

71 dB · April 13, 2007, 05:00:15 AM

Quote from: Josquin des Prez on April 13, 2007, 04:38:09 AM
The Cantus Coln disc is amazing. My favored Baroque cantatas after those of Bach. But don't forget the Membra Jesu nostri, a cycle of seven cantatas each dedicated to a part of the crucified body of Jesus. It's the closets thing we have to a large scale choral work by Buxtehude (his masses and oratorios not having survived).

I have 2 performances of Membra Jesu nostri (Koopman and Fasolis).
The Naxos disc is outstanding!

I have also heard Gardiner's version but it was a big disappointment. Very lame. Gardiner seems to think middle baroque should be handled like renaissance music. Big mistake!

Quote from: sunnyside_up on April 13, 2007, 04:41:39 AM
I agree with you, 71 dB, I enjoy all I've heard of Buxtehude so far. I have the Naxos Sacred Cantatas CD mentioned upthread by biber fan, it's a lovely recording. Must seek out more of this wonderful music. The Cantus Colln one looks like one to get (I have their "Actus Tragicus" CD of Bach Cantatas 4, 106, 196 and 12 and I love the clarity and beauty of their sound).

I'm glad you enjoy Buxtehude sunnyside_up. Don't hesite giving a change to Nikolaus Bruhns too.

sunnyside_up · April 13, 2007, 05:16:04 AM

QuoteDon't hesite giving a change to Nikolaus Bruhns too.

Another one for the wish list! Thanks 71 dB!!

Josquin des Prez · April 13, 2007, 08:06:03 AM

Quote from: 71 dB on April 13, 2007, 05:00:15 AM
I have 2 performances of Membra Jesu nostri (Koopman and Fasolis).
The Naxos disc is outstanding!

I like the Cantus Colln. Those guys really shine in this repertory (except in Bach, ironically enough).