The Bach Cantatas

[Wakefield]

Strangely enough this is vol.56 (not vol. 16) of the complete set, I have.

Not that strange. This volume includes the last concerto of the pilgrimage, so I assume the complete set is strictly ordered by recording date, which was not the case with the single volumes.

[(poco) Sforzando]

I don't own and have never heard a single Bach cantata, but it's one of those things where, for a while now, I know an in-depth encounter is coming soon. And now my father got me John Eliot Gardiner's new book Bach for Christmas. So... with the cantatas... where and how do I start? What shopping ought I to do?

I see the complete set under Rilling for $35 on Amazon used, or roughly $.50 per CD. It's not the "HIPpest" (which is not a drawback in my book), but it's certainly more than adequate for the price.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

BWV 139. Few cantatas are sunnier than this one, yet there's a variety of shades which offsets the moods. The notes describe it thusly: "You sense Bach using all his resourcefulness in adapting an Italianate trio sonata style to the demands of this defiant text and to underpinning the tenor's dilemma".



[asin]B0040VSQHE[/asin]

Aside: I don't know the story of the cover pic but the shepherd's fiery orange beard is a nifty dye job, yet the rest of his hair conforms to his age: salt & pepper. Is there back-history to this cosmetic ritual?

[milk]

I listened to four hours of Kuijken's Cantata series today. What I love about Bach/Kuijken is the color. I guess I never realized before that this what it is for me. I'm not sure that this is what's emphasized in other conceptions of this music (my initial feeling was that series like Suzuki's have the music as more of the support for the vocal parts?). Obviously, the color is part of Bach's cantata music. I guess I don't really know if this is less emphasized in other series (because I haven't yet been able to - with a few exceptions - tear myself away from Kuijken). But anyway, with Kuijken, the singing is one element amongst other complimentary elements. And, what gets me are the fascinating textures that Bach gets from what he's working with. It's more than just counterpoint. It's these rich textures that are always interesting, affecting, effective, and just right. I have to read the Gardiner book on my next vacation to find out more. Was it like, "we've got a trumpet this week so I'll write trumpet part"? Whatever it is it's, this facility with instrumentation/vocalization is what I love so much about it.     

[prémont]

On Presto Classical´s website:

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Accent/ACC25318

you can read, that the recently released 18th installement of S. Kuijken´s Bach cantata series is the conclusion of the series. I still think I read, that 29 volumes were intended from the start. 

Edit: Typo. Should be 20 instead of 29

[chasmaniac]

On Presto Classical´s website:

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Accent/ACC25318

you can read, that the recently released 18th installement of S. Kuijken´s Bach cantata series is the conclusion of the series. I still think I read, that 29 volumes were intended from the start. 

I thought it was 19. Dunno. Thanks for this heads up. I adore the Kuijken series.

[milk]

I wonder if it's possible to get people to list their favorite movements from the cantatas...say their top 10?  Perhaps it's too much trouble?   
I know I'm losing something of the dramatic narrative, but I've been compiling favorite tracks into a playlist and listening to them that way. No doubt many would object. But that's the way I've been enjoying them for a time. Perhaps it's a thread idea but if no one's interested I won't push. 

[The new erato]

Bäche von gesalznen Zähren and Komm, mein Jesu, und erquicke from BWV 21

But the glories from the cantatas are so overwhelming.....

[Marc]

I wonder if it's possible to get people to list their favorite movements from the cantatas...say their top 10?  Perhaps it's too much trouble?   
I know I'm losing something of the dramatic narrative, but I've been compiling favorite tracks into a playlist and listening to them that way. No doubt many would object. But that's the way I've been enjoying them for a time. Perhaps it's a thread idea but if no one's interested I won't push.

I don't object, but it would be an impossible task for me. I cherish Bach's cantatas now for about 35 years, but there are still new things to (re)disover.

But my favourite aria is probably "Ich will auch mit gebroch'nen Augen" from Cantata Mit Fried' und Freud' ich fahr dahin BWV 125. This particular cantata, as a whole, is also one of my favourite cantatas. The opening chorus and the duetto for tenor and bass are amazing, too. But the above mentioned aria for alto is [no words] .... well, I think if Bach would have picked it for one of his Passions, it would be one of his most praised pieces. The first time I heard it I was completely dumbstruck.

http://www.youtube.com/v/EUHXq8iLaCM

[milk]

I don't object, but it would be an impossible task for me. I cherish Bach's cantatas now for about 35 years, but there are still new things to (re)disover.

But my favourite aria is probably "Ich will auch mit gebroch'nen Augen" from Cantata Mit Fried' und Freud' ich fahr dahin BWV 125. This particular cantata, as a whole, is also one of my favourite cantatas. The opening chorus and the duetto for tenor and bass are amazing, too. But the above mentioned aria for alto is [no words] .... well, I think if Bach would have picked it for one of his Passions, it would be one of his most praised pieces. The first time I heard it I was completely dumbstruck.

http://www.youtube.com/v/EUHXq8iLaCM

Yes, I suspected it might be an impossibly tall order. I've got 82 tracks on a playlist culled mostly from the Kuijken series. Again, I suspect many would say I'm missing something by not taking each one as a whole and, perhaps, following a translation to get a deeper sense of the music. Anyway, I'm happy because I didn't know 125 before. Thanks!

[torut]

I am interested in the members' favorite Cantatas. There are so many masterworks, and suggestions would lead me to ones which I haven't heard carefully yet. Just some of the cantatas I like are BWV 51 and 82a (soprano version). They have beautiful soprano parts.

Can someone please recommend recordings of Secular Cantatas with sopranos who have similar voice as Ruth Holton? I love her clear tone of voice. Sorry if it was discussed before, but I couldn't find it.

I have Leusink's Church Cantatas set included in Brilliant Classics Bach Edition. It received mixed reviews (probably more negative ones?) but I am satisfied with it because the way they played gives me relaxed feeling, and particularly Ruth Holton's singing is so good. I have 2 Gardiner discs I bought before I got Brilliant Classics box set, which are also with Holton, but it was not completed yet at that time, then I purchased Brilliant Classics box. I am comfortable with Leusink, but the performance of Secular Cantatas in the box by Schreier, especially soprano, is too operatic for me. I am looking for Secular Cantatas recordings by singers with cleaner and less vibrato voice.

[DavidW]

My favorites are 1, 51, 82, 140, 199.

I don't care for the secular cantata recordings in the big box either. 

[Marc]

I am interested in the members' favorite Cantatas. There are so many masterworks, and suggestions would lead me to ones which I haven't heard carefully yet. Just some of the cantatas I like are BWV 51 and 82a (soprano version). They have beautiful soprano parts.

Can someone please recommend recordings of Secular Cantatas with sopranos who have similar voice as Ruth Holton? I love her clear tone of voice. Sorry if it was discussed before, but I couldn't find it.

I have Leusink's Church Cantatas set included in Brilliant Classics Bach Edition. It received mixed reviews (probably more negative ones?) but I am satisfied with it because the way they played gives me relaxed feeling, and particularly Ruth Holton's singing is so good. I have 2 Gardiner discs I bought before I got Brilliant Classics box set, which are also with Holton, but it was not completed yet at that time, then I purchased Brilliant Classics box. I am comfortable with Leusink, but the performance of Secular Cantatas in the box by Schreier, especially soprano, is too operatic for me. I am looking for Secular Cantatas recordings by singers with cleaner and less vibrato voice.

Maybe Koopman would be a good choice. Volumes 4 & 5 of his Cantatas integral (7 discs in total) contain many secular cantatas. And Lisa Larsson et al don't have much vibrato.

[torut]

Maybe Koopman would be a good choice. Volumes 4 & 5 of his Cantatas integral (7 discs in total) contain many secular cantatas. And Lisa Larsson et al don't have much vibrato.

Thank you, Marc. Some samples I heard were good. Actually, Koopman's Church Cantatas also sounded so good in samples that I became to want it too, but maybe some time later...

[Wakefield]

Thank you, Marc. Some samples I heard were good. Actually, Koopman's Church Cantatas also sounded so good in samples that I became to want it too, but maybe some time later...

This is a top choice:



http://www.amazon.com/Secular-Cantatas-J-S-Bach/dp/B000VX1RAS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395534912&sr=8-1&keywords=B000VX1RAS

Some hyperactive children under the master's discipline. 

[North Star]

This is a top choice:



http://www.amazon.com/Secular-Cantatas-J-S-Bach/dp/B000VX1RAS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395534912&sr=8-1&keywords=B000VX1RAS

Some hyperactive children under the master's discipline. 

+1, and you can also get it in this terrific box (that doesn't have any of the original liner notes or texts, though - which are available as PDFs on Alpha's website)
[asin]B007NM8DB6[/asin]

[torut]

This is a top choice:

http://www.amazon.com/Secular-Cantatas-J-S-Bach/dp/B000VX1RAS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395534912&sr=8-1&keywords=B000VX1RAS

Some hyperactive children under the master's discipline. 

Is it boy soprano? I read that the boy sopranos are technically not as secure as adult female sopranos. (I cannot find audio samples of the album.)

[Wakefield]

Is it boy soprano? I read that the boy sopranos are technically not as secure as adult female sopranos. (I cannot find audio samples of the album.)

No, "the hyperactive children" I was referring to, were the Cafe Zimmerman members. 

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Can someone please recommend recordings of Secular Cantatas with sopranos who have similar voice as Ruth Holton? I love her clear tone of voice. Sorry if it was discussed before, but I couldn't find it.

I've never heard Ruth Holton but some secular cantata recordings I like are:



[asin]B000ARCJ7A[/asin]

[asin]B00001X59I[/asin]

[asin]B000050X9M[/asin]

[Wakefield]

I've never heard Ruth Holton...

I think you would love her voice. It has a sort of charming boyish quality.

IIRC, Marc criticized sometime her mastering of the German (which I'm not able to judge).