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Bach: Cantatas Vol 14 / Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists
SDG

Bach: Cantatas Vol 14 / Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists

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Details

Composer
BACH, J.S.
Artist
English Baroque Soloists, Gardiner
Format
CD
Label
SDG
Released
Jul 26, 2005
Catalog #
SDG 113
UPC
843183011322

About

These days we have to be reminded that Easter, not Christmas, is the primary festival of the church year. (In Bach’s Leipzig, of course, Good Friday was the most important day of the musical year.) Nevertheless, Christmas was a major celebration at that time and place, with services on Christmas and the next two days, followed by observances on New Year’s day, the first Sunday of the New Year, and Epiphany. Consequently, Bach created considerable music for the season. The present disc, Volume 14 in the series, features two Christmas cantatas, BWV 91 (1724) and 110 (1725), and two cantatas for the day after Christmas, BWV 40 (1723) and 121 (1724).

Cantata 91, from the year of chorale cantatas, imbues Luther’s Christmas hymn, Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, with a feeling of anticipation and exhilaration unusual even for Bach. Budding excitement in the opening chorus finally erupts in striking syncopations. The final chorale is enhanced by fanfare-like expressions from the brass. Another chorale cantata is BWV 121, based on Christum wir sollen loben schon. It begins with a more subdued choral movement, but a joyful air is introduced by the subsequent tenor aria and reinforced by a jaunty aria for bass. Cantata 40 does not belong to the chorale-cantata cycle, but three of the seven movements after the opening chorale fantasia are straightforward chorale settings. Most resplendent of these four cantatas is No. 110, which opens with a choral re-make of the third movement of the Fourth Orchestral Suite.

Gardiner’s preface again reminds us that the Cantata Pilgrimage was not undertaken as a recording project; the recordings are fortuitous by-products of the Pilgrimage. The concert captured on this disc, which took place in New York City on Christmas Day, 2000, was the third-to-last in the whole enterprise. One might reasonably have excused any evidence of fatigue at that point, but there is none in evidence; rather, the energy generated by the performances is quite extraordinary. For listeners who wish to sample the series before committing themselves to it, this single disc may provide an auspicious starting point. Most enthusiastically recommended.

Incidentally, in reviewing earlier releases from the Pilgrimage, I noted the sterling attendance record of violist Colin Kitching. A letter from Clifford Bartlett of Early Music Review noted that Kitching is the Monteverdi Choir’s librarian. But, alas! He didn’t make it to the Big Apple, so Sir John will be the only person to have participated in every one of the Pilgrimage recordings.

FANFARE: George Chien

Tracklist 27 tracks

  1. 1 Chorale: Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ (Chorus) 02:46
    Track
    1
    Title
    Chorale: Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ (Chorus)
    Duration
    02:46
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  2. 2 Recitative and Chorale: Der Glanz der hochsten Herrlichkeit (Soprano) 01:54
    Track
    2
    Title
    Recitative and Chorale: Der Glanz der hochsten Herrlichkeit (Soprano)
    Duration
    01:54
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Katherine Fuge
    Ensemble
    English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  3. 3 Aria; Gott, dem der Erden Kreis zu klein (Tenor) 02:26
    Track
    3
    Title
    Aria; Gott, dem der Erden Kreis zu klein (Tenor)
    Duration
    02:26
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    James Gilchrist
    Ensemble
    English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  4. 4 Recitative: O Christenheit! (Bass) 01:16
    Track
    4
    Title
    Recitative: O Christenheit! (Bass)
    Duration
    01:16
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Peter Harvey
    Ensemble
    English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  5. 5 Aria Duet: Die Armut, so Gott auf sich nimmt (Soprano, Alto) 06:50
    Track
    5
    Title
    Aria Duet: Die Armut, so Gott auf sich nimmt (Soprano, Alto)
    Duration
    06:50
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Katherine Fuge, Robin Tyson
    Ensemble
    English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  6. 6 Chorale: Das hat er alles uns getan 00:48
    Track
    6
    Title
    Chorale: Das hat er alles uns getan
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  7. 7 Chorale: Christum wir sollen loben schon (Chorus) 02:37
    Track
    7
    Title
    Chorale: Christum wir sollen loben schon (Chorus)
    Duration
    02:37
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  8. 8 Aria: O du von Gott erhohte Kreatur (Tenor) 04:36
    Track
    8
    Title
    Aria: O du von Gott erhohte Kreatur (Tenor)
    Duration
    04:36
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    James Gilchrist
    Ensemble
    English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  9. 9 Recitative: Der Gnade unermesslich's Wesen (Alto) 01:11
    Track
    9
    Title
    Recitative: Der Gnade unermesslich's Wesen (Alto)
    Duration
    01:11
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    William Towers
    Ensemble
    English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  10. 10 Aria: Johannis fredenvolles Springen (Bass) 07:37
    Track
    10
    Title
    Aria: Johannis fredenvolles Springen (Bass)
    Duration
    07:37
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Peter Harvey
    Ensemble
    English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  11. 11 Recitative: Doch wie erblickt es dich in deiner Krippe? (Soprano) 00:55
    Track
    11
    Title
    Recitative: Doch wie erblickt es dich in deiner Krippe? (Soprano)
    Duration
    00:55
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Katherine Fuge
    Ensemble
    English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  12. 12 Chorale: Lob, Ehr und Dank sei dir gesagt 01:05
    Track
    12
    Title
    Chorale: Lob, Ehr und Dank sei dir gesagt
    Duration
    01:05
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  13. 13 Chorale: Dazu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes 03:59
    Track
    13
    Title
    Chorale: Dazu ist erschienen der Sohn Gottes
    Duration
    03:59
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  14. 14 Recitative: Das Wort ward Fleisch und wohnet in der Welt (Tenor) 01:21
    Track
    14
    Title
    Recitative: Das Wort ward Fleisch und wohnet in der Welt (Tenor)
    Duration
    01:21
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    James Gilchrist
    Ensemble
    English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  15. 15 Chorale: Die Sund macht Leid 00:47
    Track
    15
    Title
    Chorale: Die Sund macht Leid
    Duration
    00:47
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  16. 16 Aria: hollische Schlange (Bass) 01:54
    Track
    16
    Title
    Aria: hollische Schlange (Bass)
    Duration
    01:54
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Peter Harvey
    Ensemble
    English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  17. 17 Recitative: Die Schlange, so im Paradies (Alto) 01:09
    Track
    17
    Title
    Recitative: Die Schlange, so im Paradies (Alto)
    Duration
    01:09
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Robin Tyson
    Ensemble
    English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  18. 18 Chorale; Schuttle deinen Kopf und sprich 00:48
    Track
    18
    Title
    Chorale; Schuttle deinen Kopf und sprich
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  19. 19 Aria: Christenkinder, freueteuch! (Tenor) 03:26
    Track
    19
    Title
    Aria: Christenkinder, freueteuch! (Tenor)
    Duration
    03:26
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    James Gilchrist
    Ensemble
    English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  20. 20 Chorale: Jesu, nimm dich deiner Glieder 01:03
    Track
    20
    Title
    Chorale: Jesu, nimm dich deiner Glieder
    Duration
    01:03
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  21. 21 Chorale: Unser Mund sei voll Lachens 06:10
    Track
    21
    Title
    Chorale: Unser Mund sei voll Lachens
    Duration
    06:10
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  22. 22 Aria: Ihr Gedanken und ihr Sinnen (Tenor) 03:59
    Track
    22
    Title
    Aria: Ihr Gedanken und ihr Sinnen (Tenor)
    Duration
    03:59
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    James Gilchrist
    Ensemble
    English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  23. 23 Recitative: Dir, Herr, ist niemand gleich (Bass) 00:31
    Track
    23
    Title
    Recitative: Dir, Herr, ist niemand gleich (Bass)
    Duration
    00:31
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Peter Harvey
    Ensemble
    English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  24. 24 Aria: Ach Herr, was ist ein Menschenkind (Alto) 03:21
    Track
    24
    Title
    Aria: Ach Herr, was ist ein Menschenkind (Alto)
    Duration
    03:21
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    William Towers
    Ensemble
    English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  25. 25 Aria Duet: Ehre sei Gott in der Hohe (Soprano, Tenor) 03:43
    Track
    25
    Title
    Aria Duet: Ehre sei Gott in der Hohe (Soprano, Tenor)
    Duration
    03:43
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Joanne Lunn, James Gilchrist
    Ensemble
    English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  26. 26 Aria: Wacht auf, ihr Adern und ihr Glieder (Bass) 03:34
    Track
    26
    Title
    Aria: Wacht auf, ihr Adern und ihr Glieder (Bass)
    Duration
    03:34
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Performer
    Peter Harvey
    Ensemble
    English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner
  27. 27 Chorale: Halleluja! Halleluja! Gelobt sei Gott 00:55
    Track
    27
    Title
    Chorale: Halleluja! Halleluja! Gelobt sei Gott
    Duration
    00:55
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists
    Conductor
    John Eliot Gardiner