The Bach Cantatas

[knight66]

I am not totally 'with' the concept as expressed by the list and really only used it to illustrate that Bach had dance rhythms stitched through his music making, which might have surprised some in relation to his religious output.

Mike

[Mandryka]

Did other baroque composers use dance in religious music, or is this a Bach innovation?

[knight66]

When I have been rehearsing Handel, I can recall conductors mentioning dance rhythms at specific points,  but not across entire arias or choruses. I am trying to think of the Telemann I know and none of it strikes me as in dance rhythm. Not sure of Vivaldi, but again, running bits through my head, the answer would be a tentative no.

Mike

[Parsifal]

Who needs knowledge when we've got google.

I found some notes on the cpo recording of Teleman's "Ertrage nur das Joch der Mängel," that describe it as based on dance rhythms, with the note that this was somewhat unusual for a cantata.

http://www.allmusic.com/album/georg-philipp-telemann-fortsetzung-des-harmonischen-gottesdienstes-mw0001845160

[Marc]

Did other baroque composers use dance in religious music, or is this a Bach innovation?

During Bach's own lifetime, I think one can also find dance influences in music composed for the Paris series Concert Spirituel, as kind of a heritage of Louis XIV's preference for dance rhythms in almost every form of music. During his reign, French court composers had to write religious music, commissioned by their king, and of course they had to grant his wishes.

If Bach knew some of the 17th century French grands motets (which I think he did), he of course recognized the dance influence, and got inspired by it.

(Just a guess.)

[kishnevi]

In Re  Suzuki:
from Prestoclassical

Masaaki Suzuki's complete cycle of Bach Cantatas sees its final volume released on 4th November 2013 – the 55th disc in this huge project, which has taken nearly two decades to complete and has drawn critical acclaim and recommendations along the way.

To celebrate the ascent of this musical Everest, we've put together a very special offer, featuring:
20% off all CDs and SACDs in the Bach Cantatas series
20% off all download albums in this series – our first ever download offer!
For a limited time only (until the end of November), a free download sampler featuring selected movements from the series, and exclusive to Presto Classical – you won't find this anywhere else!

This special offer will end on 25th December 2013, and applies to CDs, SACDs and download albums (please note - the prices shown include the 20% discount).

sampler contents

Bach, J S:   
Cantata BWV110 'Unser Mund sei voll Lachens': Unser Mund sei voll Lachens

Cantata BWV161 'Komm, du süsse Todesstunde': Komm, du süsse Todesstunde

Yoshikazu Mera (alto)

Cantata BWV55 'Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht': I. Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht

Gerd Türk (tenor)

Cantata BWV120 'Gott man lobet dich in Stille': Heil und Segen

Hana Blažíková (soprano)

Cantata BWV102 'Herr, deine Augen sehen nach dem Glauben': Herr, deine Augen sehen nach dem Glauben

Cantata BWV82 'Ich habe genug': aria 'Ich habe genug, ich habe den Heiland'

Peter Kooij (bass)

Cantata BWV105 'Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht mit deinem Knecht': Wie zittern und wanken

Miah Persson (soprano)

Cantata BWV91 'Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ': O Christenheit! Wohlan, so mache dich bereit

Peter Kooij (bass)

Cantata BWV91 'Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ': Die Armut, so Gott auf sich nimmt

Yukari Nonoshita (soprano), Robin Blaze (alto)

Cantata BWV29 'Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir': Overture

Cantata BWV103 'Ihr werdet weinen und heulen': Ihr werdet weinen und heulen

Dominik Wörner (bass)

Cantata BWV125 'Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin': Ich will auch mit gebrochnen Augen

Robin Blaze (alto)

Cantata BWV51 'Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen': Sei Lob und Preis

Carolyn Sampson (soprano)

Cantata BWV51 'Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen': Alleluja!

Carolyn Sampson (soprano)

Cantata BWV147 'Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben': Jesu, bleibet meine Freude

The download (MP3 only) can be accessed at

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/BIS/BIS9051

I have, btw, finally started the Rilling cantata cycle.  So far I'm generally impressed with it as a collection of good MI performances.  (I'm listening to CD 4 just now--BWV 10, 12, 13)

[milk]

I'm waiting for this to arrive in the mail. The final installment.

[DavidW]

Milk, so Kuijken has recorded all of the cantatas?  Will there be a big box I wonder?

[jlaurson]

Milk, so Kuijken has recorded all of the cantatas?  Will there be a big box I wonder?

Just a "One Year Cycle" -- enough cantatas to fill one liturgical year. Very nice concept, I thought... choosy like Herreweghe, but with a clear goal and concept.

[milk]

Just a "One Year Cycle" -- enough cantatas to fill one liturgical year. Very nice concept, I thought... choosy like Herreweghe, but with a clear goal and concept.

Any thoughts on these selections? I know 54 is a popular one.

[jlaurson]

Any thoughts on these selections? I know 54 is a popular one.

Sure: http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2010/12/best-recordings-of-2010-7.html, http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2009/12/best-recordings-of-2008-almost-list.html

[prémont]

I'm waiting for this to arrive in the mail. The final installment.

I am also waiting for this to arrive (from Presto Classical - preorder). It is vol. 17.  IIRC Kuijken initially announced, that he would record 20 volumes?

[Marc]

I am also waiting for this to arrive (from Presto Classical - preorder). It is vol. 17.  IIRC Kuijken initially announced, that he would record 20 volumes?

Yep.

http://www.newolde.com/kuijken_bach_project.htm

[milk]

Yep.

http://www.newolde.com/kuijken_bach_project.htm

Ok. Sorry. I got the idea somewhere and now I can't find where. But I guess I'm wrong. Presto classical says "17 of 18." Sorry about that.
I'm glad we're not finished yet.

[Marc]

Ok. Sorry. I got the idea somewhere and now I can't find where. But I guess I'm wrong. Presto classical says "17 of 18." Sorry about that.
I'm glad we're not finished yet.

And to make things more clear: their own website makes you think we ARE finished (yet).

[....] The 17-part CD series "Cantatas of J.S. Bach" (ACCENT) [....]

http://www.lapetitebande.be/lpb.php

[Mandryka]

I hope someone will comment on that new Kuijken CD when they've heard it, I'm interested in Widerstehe dich der stünde. If anyone has a special recording please let me know.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I hope someone will comment on that new Kuijken CD when they've heard it, I'm interested in Widerstehe dich der stünde. If anyone has a special recording please let me know.

For cantata 54? For me, Herreweghe.




[asin]B000005Z30[/asin]

[jlaurson]

For cantata 54? For me, Herreweghe.

Scholl is not my absolute favorite, but Herreweghe's choice of tempi certainly is. Especially in the second part of the opening aria.

[Mandryka]

I'll get hold of that Herreweghe CD.

Does anyone know who conducts the Bwv 54 in the big Harnoncourt set - NH or GL?

I  like Mira with Suzuki.

[Sammy]

Does anyone know who conducts the Bwv 54 in the big Harnoncourt set - NH or GL?

Leonhardt is the man.