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Bach: Cantatas Vol 34 / Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan

BIS

SACD

$21.99 Jan 01, 2007

The three cantatas on Volume 34 were first performed in February and March 1725, in the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, where Bach was employed. The first one, Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, was composed for the Feast of the Annunciation, and celebrates the joyous news brought to Mary of the coming birth of Christ in a suitably jubilant manner. A particular feature is the unusual scoring - as well as a string orchestra there are two horns, two oboi da caccia (ie. alto oboes) and two solo violins. BWV126 (Erhalt uns, herr, bei deinem Wort) is in a rather more dramatic vein, with its exhortation to God to support mankind against the enemies of the faith. the recitative 'Der Menschen Gunst und Macht' for alto and tenor is particularly noteworthy: Bach has cast the entire movement in the form of a dialogue, creating a fusion of recitative, arioso and chorale that is without equal in its era. The disc ends on a more resigned note with BWV127, based on a hymn which is in fact a song of death, ending with a plea for the forgiveness of sins. The soprano aria 'The soul will rest in Jesus' hands' combines a certainty of belief and a longing for death are combined in one of Bach's most beautiful and individual cantata movements, and the simple four-part final chorale concludes with an exquisite sequence of harmonies that lends a dreamlike quality to the words 'until we slumber blessedly'.

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Bach: Cantatas Vol 34 / Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan
BIS Jan 2007
SACD
$21.99

Bach: Cantatas Vol 31 / Suzuki, Türk, Et Al

BIS

SACD

$21.99 Apr 01, 2006

This is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players.
Includes cantata(s) by Johann Sebastian Bach. Ensembles: Concerto Palatino Brass Ensemble, Bach Collegium Japan. Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki. Soloists: Gerd Türk, Peter Kooij, Yukari Nonoshita, Robin Blaze.

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Bach: Cantatas Vol 31 / Suzuki, Türk, Et Al
BIS Apr 2006
SACD
$21.99

J.S. Bach: The Toccatas

Audite Musikproduktion

$20.99 Feb 21, 2025

Even their genesis seems mysterious: manuscripts of Johann Sebastian Bach's toccatas have not survived. However, it is assumed that the works were composed in the years of his Arnstadt and early Weimar period, when Bach was gradually working his way up to become a renowned organist. And it is no wonder that he chose the toccata as the playground for his development: since the days of the Roman Girolamo Frescobaldi, the toccata was a kind of musical laboratory in which one could try out anything with impunity. There are virtuosic, glittering improvisations next to strict but extremely energetic fugues, expressive arias next to lively, folksy dances. Bach has thus compiled entertaining suites and potpourris with great freedom, but always allowing them to breathe under great dramatic arcs. Jonathan Ferrucci is certain that the toccatas are among Bach's most interesting piano works. 'He is bubbling over with ideas and always creates abrupt contrasts when you least expect them. There is this wild, youthful energy with which he explores all the affects and formal possibilities of the music of the time. And when I play, I feel as if I'm composing the music together with Bach in the moment - that's because of this incredible spontaneity and his delight in invention.' Born in Florence to Italian-Australian parents, Ferrucci's childhood was already characterised by the glorious history of the Renaissance and Baroque periods and the vast Australian landscape.

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J.S. Bach: The Toccatas
Audite Musikproduktion Feb 2025
CD
$20.99

BACH: THE ART OF LIFE

DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON

$24.99 Nov 18, 2022

Deluxe two CD + Blu-Ray edition. Daniil Trifonov's 2022 album, Bach: The Art of Life, explores the scientific, emotional and spiritual dimensions of Johann Sebastian Bach's cosmos. This Deluxe Edition includes the album on 2 CDs, plus an exclusive Blu-ray Video/Audio disc recorded live at the legendary Berlin Philharmonie recital in 2021. "The star pianist plays this monumental keyboard work, wrote RBB Kultur after the recital, "and not a single wish is left unfulfilled by his interpretation."

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BACH: THE ART OF LIFE
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON Nov 2022
CD
$24.99

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No. 4, 5 & 6
Berlin Classics Apr 2008
CD
$10.99

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Lamon, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra

Tafelmusik

$20.99 Mar 27, 2012

“To my ears, these are Brandenburgs straight from the heart and as such they are performances which invite repeated listening.”

– Gramophone

1995 JUNO Award Winner – “Best Classical Album: Large Ensemble.”

The Six Brandenburg Concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) are considered by musicians, critics and audiences alike among the finest musical compositions of the baroque era. Bach presented the concertos to the Margrave of Brandenburg, Christian Ludwig, in Berlin, March 24, 1721, with the hopes some patronage would come his way. The music was preserved in the Brandenburg archives, and when rediscovered in the 19th century became some of the most beloved music of all time. Beloved is the operative word in this re-release of the masterpieces in the hands of JEANNE LAMON and the TAFELMUSIK BAROQUE ORCHESTRA. Critic Teb Libbey wrote, “Lucid and refreshingly pure, like water drawn from a cool, clear stream, these accounts are notable for the consistently clean textures and solid bass lines, for the way melodic lines and voice leading are clearly delineated, and for the manner in which the solo instruments emerge from the tutti with just the right amount of presence. With excellent sound, these are well-nigh ideal realizations.”

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Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Lamon, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra
Tafelmusik Mar 2012
CD
$20.99

BACH DYNASTY

HARMONIA MUNDI

$44.33 May 13, 2022

This collections celebrated Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlins' forty years of excellence with and around the Bach family. In addition to such famous works as the Brandenburg Concertos and Orchestral Suites, this anniversary set invites you to explore the golden age of a veritable dynasty, from Johann Sebastian's distant cousin Johann Ludwig to his sons Wilhelm Friedemann, Carl Philipp Emanuel and Johann Christian - from the finest works of the Baroque era to the first examples of the Classical style: simply breathtaking.

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BACH DYNASTY
HARMONIA MUNDI May 2022
CD
$44.33

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos
Berlin Classics Oct 2014
CD
$32.99

BACH: OVERTURES BWV 1066,1068

DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON

Vinyl

$41.51 Oct 24, 2025

The English Concert/Trevor Pinnock - "Bach: Overtures BWV 1066, 1068 (The Original Source Series)". Bach's Overtures (or "Orchestral Suites") are joyful suites of dance movements. The two recorded here, No.1 and No. 3, are especially flamboyant works of Baroque splendor, while also featuring the famous "Air" (in Suite No. 3), a peaceful piece of utter beauty and serenity. Hardly any ensemble has influenced our listening attitudes to "early music" as much as "The English Concert, " which came into being over 50 years ago. The founder and long-time conductor Trevor Pinnock led the musicians with an articulate tone from the harpsichord and thus formed the sound from the heart of the ensemble. The Original Source Series from DG features celebrated 4-track recordings from the '70s reissued on vinyl. Remastered by the renowned Berlin-based Emil Berliner Studios using 100% pure analogue techniques to create versions of the highest possible audio quality. Produced on 180g vinyl by Optimal and housed in deluxe gatefold editions, featuring additional photos and/or recording documentation.

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BACH: OVERTURES BWV 1066,1068
DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON Oct 2025
Vinyl
$41.51

Bach: Secular Cantatas Vol 3 / Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan

BIS

SACD

$21.99 Jul 30, 2013

Although two of the works on this disc were composed for weddings, they are completely different in character. Weichet nur, betrübte Schatten is a charming and gracious garland of recitatives and arias for soprano solo in which Spring, Flora, Apollo and Amor are all invoked in a blessing of the newly wedded couple and their union. The Quodlibet (Latin for ‘what pleases’) on the other hand, is an altogether unceremonious composition which was probably intended for a private function in Bach’s own circle or family. All we have is a fragment of the work – in Bach’s own hand – and the beginning and ending of the piece, including the title page, are missing. It is therefore not even certain that it is Bach’s own work, but may have been a collaboration between several of the wedding guests. Compositions of this kind belong to a tradition which combines quotations from songs, toasts, market traders’ calls, proverbs and puns, and were especially popular at weddings – where they frequently got out of hand! The third disc in Bach Collegium Japan’s series of secular cantatas also includes a birthday cantata composed in the honour of Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Köthen, Bach’s employer during years 1717–23. Durchlauchtster Leopold (‘Most illustrious Leopold’) celebrates the ‘propitious day’ while extolling the ruler’s ‘excellent attributes’ and ‘princely renown’. Two duets in minuet form lend the work the character of a courtly serenade, which didn’t stop Bach from reusing it, with a new text, as a church cantata a few years later. The name of the recipient of Schwingt freudig euch empor , another congratulatory cantata, is no longer known, but the text tells us that he was a teacher of high standing and of an advanced age. Once again Bach, who must have been attached to the work, reused it as a church cantata, but also, with the new title Steigt freudig in die Luft , as a birthday tribute to Charlotte Friederike of Anhalt-Köthen, the wife of Prince Leopold.

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Bach: Secular Cantatas Vol 3 / Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan
BIS Jul 2013
SACD
$21.99

Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I / Schiff [Blu-ray]

Naxos AudioVisual

Blu-Ray

$30.99 Jan 10, 2020

This Blu-ray Disc is only playable on Blu-ray Disc players and not compatible with standard DVD players.

Also available on standard DVD

Johann Sebastian Bach was undoubtedly the greatest musical thinker of his age. Dubbed ‘the Old Testament of music’ by the conductor and pianist Hans von Bülow, the Well-Tempered Clavier is acknowledged to be one of the most significant works ever written for the keyboard. Each of these 24 preludes and fugues encapsulates its own mood, and Bach’s delight in mixing technical strictness with freedom of expression has made this work an indispensable element of Western culture for centuries. Sir András Schiff is heralded as one of the finest Bach interpreters today, and this first complete performance at the prestigious BBC Proms was summed up as ‘stupendous’ by The Independent.

-----

REVIEW:

That he played the one hundred and ten minutes of the First Book from The Well-Tempered Clavier from memory was a feat in itself; that he played it without a blemish was remarkable, and that he imbued it with such happiness was something to remember. Played without an interval, and with both feet firmly planted on the stage, we come as near to Bach’s harpsichord as you can get from a modern Steinway concert grand piano.

– David's Review Corner (David Denton)

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Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I / Schiff [Blu-ray]
Naxos AudioVisual Jan 2020
Blu-Ray
$30.99

The Very Best Of Bach
Naxos Oct 2005
CD
$29.99

Bach: Sonate à Cembalo è Vola da Gamba
Alpha Apr 2012
CD
$20.99

Bach: Violin Concertos on Vinyl / F.P. Zimmermann, Berlin Baroque Soloists

Haenssler Classic

Vinyl

$32.99 Oct 21, 2022

Frank Peter Zimmermann, one of the most important violinists of our time, and his son Serge, who made his orchestral debut in 2000 at the age of nine with a violin concerto by Mozart, have succeeded in making a wonderful recording of the violin concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach together with the Berliner Barock Solisten. A great listening experience! The Double Concerto in D minor, one of Bach's most popular instrumental works, presents the principle of a contrapuntally linked, concertante dialogue between the solo violins in all movements.

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Bach: Violin Concertos on Vinyl / F.P. Zimmermann, Berlin Baroque Soloists
Haenssler Classic Oct 2022
Vinyl
$32.99

Bach: Toccatas & Fugue
Gothic Jan 2009
CD
$18.99

Naxos Bach Edition 4 - Bach: Harpsichord Concertos II / Hill

Naxos

$19.99 Jan 01, 2000

One of the nicest things about Naxos' complete survey of Bach's orchestral music is that each disc always includes a substantial musical "bonus" that distinguishes it from the numerous competing performances available. In this case, conductor Helmut Müller-Brühl and his intrepid band of keyboard and string players offer a reconstruction of the Concerto for Three Harpsichords BWV 1064 in its original version for three violins. Comparison of the two versions is fascinating, not least because the players offer a fractionally more expansive tempo in the slow movement of the violin version, acknowledging the stringed instrument's superior ability to sustain a long, lyrical melody. It's this sensitivity to the natural qualities of the solo instruments themselves that allows the players to set ideal tempos, and to perform each work with just the right mix of high spirits and idiomatic musicianship. In short, these are performances as good as any, and a great buy. --David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

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Naxos Bach Edition 4 - Bach: Harpsichord Concertos II / Hill
Naxos Jan 2000
CD
$19.99

Bach, J.S.: Pentecost Arias
Haenssler Classic May 2006
CD
$5.99

Bach: Cantatas, Vol. 39

BIS

SACD

$21.99 Apr 01, 2008

After two volumes concentrating on solo cantatas, the full forces - including the splendid choir - of Bach Collegium Japan return in this programme of five cantatas dated 1725. The choir instantly makes its presence felt in the first movement of the opening work, BWV68. This is a large-scale hymn arrangement, where the choir is supported by an orchestra including horns and oboes. This is followed by one of the most charming and beautiful soprano arias in all of Bach's cantatas, 'Mein gläubiges Herze', in which Carolyn Sampson shines. The five works all include more or less unusual instrumental combinations, from the three recorders which lend a pastoral character to 'Er rufet seinen Schafen mit Namen', BWV175, to the wind quartet (two oboi d'amore and two oboi da caccia) appearing in 'Sie werden euch in den Bann tun', BWV183. The variety of timbres is further aided by the appearance of the cornet and trombones of Concerto Palatino, as well as that of Dmitry Badiarov performing the important and soloistic parts for violoncello piccolo on his own reconstruction of a violoncello 'da spalla' ('of the shoulder'). Apart from Carolyn Sampson, the vocal soloists are Gerd Türk, who glows in the intensely melodic tenor aira 'Seht, was die Liebe tut' (from BWV85), Peter Kooij, whose bass becomes the voice of Christ in 'Ich bin ein guter Hirt', (BWV85), and Robin Blaze having a fine moment in the expressive alto aria 'Komm, leite mich' (BWV175). All in all, another impressive instalment in this highly acclaimed cycle.

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Bach: Cantatas, Vol. 39
BIS Apr 2008
SACD
$21.99

Bach: The Complete Toccatas / Rousset

APARTE

$20.17 Feb 28, 2025

Christophe Rousset continues and concludes his exploration of Bach's splendid keyboard corpus in this new recording, which combines depth, virtuosity and interiority. The Toccatas are among Bach's earliest works composed between 1705 and 1712. They bear witness to the influence of northern masters such as Buxtehude, and are above all the site of Bach's stylistic blossoming, giving free rein to his fantasy, his freedom and his architectural and expressive genius.

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Bach: The Complete Toccatas / Rousset
APARTE Feb 2025
CD
$20.17

Bach: Cantatas Vol 20 / Suzuki, Bach Colegium Japan

BIS

$21.99 Nov 01, 2002

The four cantatas of Volume 20, for Pentecost and Exaudi (the Sunday between Ascension and Pentecost) in 1724, presented here in reverse order, mark the end of Bach’s first year in Leipzig. Pentecost, like Christmas and Easter, was a three-day celebration with services sung at various locations. To meet the challenge, Bach adapted music from Cöthen for Monday (BWV 173) and Tuesday (BWV 184). The Sunday cantata (BWV 59) was apparently written for Leipzig, but in 1723, before Bach was officially installed as cantor. The surviving score has only four movements––a duet for soprano and bass, a soprano recitative, a four-part chorale setting, and a bass aria, leading to speculation that it may not be complete. For his performance, Suzuki has attached a chorale, with music from Cantata 6 and an unused verse of the text. Both the Monday and Tuesday cantatas call for pairs of flutes; both uncharacteristically end, but do not start, with brief choruses. The one newly composed cantata (BWV 44) also dispenses with the first-movement chorus. Instead, there is a duet for tenor and bass that opens with an extended instrumental trio for two oboes and continuo. The chorus appears in the second movement and sings the concluding chorale.

Some general notes: after Maestro Suzuki himself, the closest thing to a constant in the series remains Peter Kooij’s steady bass. The leading soprano is now Yukari Nonoshita, whose clear, near white tone is entirely appropriate for Bach’s music. Tenors come and go; note that four different tenors, all satisfactory, appear on these four discs. Suzuki continues to alternate between male or female altos depending on the specific task at hand. The soloists participate in the chorus but do not sing alone. Western names have become quite rare in the list of performers, with Japanese musicians handling most parts, vocal and instrumental, with their by-now-accustomed excellence. The notes remain exemplary, but Klaus Hofmann now shares that task with Suzuki, whose function is generally to explain his decisions regarding problems with the performing editions. As always, BIS’s recordings are first-rate... Of course, I’m going to urge interested listeners to acquire [this disc]. Bach and Suzuki are still one of the best tandems going.

-- George Chien, FANFARE

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Bach: Cantatas Vol 20 / Suzuki, Bach Colegium Japan
BIS Nov 2002
CD
$21.99

Bach: Complete Solo Cantatas for Alto & Bass

CPO

$36.99 Nov 15, 2024

L'Orfeo Barockorchester and it's director Michi Gaigg have created an impressive discography through their close collaboration with cpo. Their repertoire spans from Baroque and Classical instrumental works to Schubert's symphonies and includes rarely performed compositions by Telemann and Haydn's delightful Incontro improvviso. New to the cpo catalog is their exploration of Johann Sebastian Bach by this refined, spirited ensemble. Seven sacred solo cantatas form the program, featuring two proven specialists in early music who sing the vocal part: Dutch bass-baritone Peter Kooij, awarded the Leipzig Bach Medal in 2016, and Austrian alto Margot Oitzinger compellingly demonstrate how people in the time of the great Thomaskantor strove to guide Christians on the right path.

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Bach: Complete Solo Cantatas for Alto & Bass
CPO Nov 2024
CD
$36.99

Bach & Cage: Chorales / Berger [Vinyl]

Solo Musica

Vinyl

$39.99 Oct 06, 2017

Julius Berger writes of his new release: "Johann Sebastian Bach’s suites for cello solo are arguably the purest form of music, works that require no explanation or background knowledge. Johann Sebastian Bach made one of his most profound affirmations, a Gradus ad Parnassum, which in six stages sets out an intellectual and technical challenge that is and will probably remain peerless in the history of music for our instrument. My colleague and friend, Prof. Peter Langgartner from the Mozarteum University of Salzburg pointed out to me that the Prelude of the first suite contains Luther’s chorale “Vom Himmel hoch, da komm’ ich her” (from Heaven above, from thence I come). I had always presumed so and was grateful for confirmation that the cello suites make allusions to chorales and religious messages. I have therefore found a musical way of opening a spiritual door to the suites and added chorales to Suites 1, 3, and 5 in the mould of sounds from John Cage’s work One 8, chorales that in my opinion are definitely consistent with messages conveyed in the suites. I find that John Cage’s music shares similarities with Bach’s. His music allows for inner reflection, providing a contemplative point of calm. Cage said the purpose of music is “to cleanse the soul and bring it peace, thus making it amenable to divine influences”. My son Immanuel intones the chorales to this special music; each chorale is followed by two Bach suites."

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Bach & Cage: Chorales / Berger [Vinyl]
Solo Musica Oct 2017
Vinyl
$39.99

Bach: Sonatas, Partitas & Suites / Roed

Ondine

$18.99 Jun 08, 2018

This new Ondine release by Danish-born recorder player Bolette Roed includes the music of Johann Sebastian Bach arranged for solo recorder. The works were arranged by Frans Brüggen (1934–2014), famous Dutch recorder player and conductor who was of the greatest importance to the movement of the historically informed performance practice. With the exception of his Partita BWV 1013, Bach wrote relatively few works for the recorder. However, composers like Bach and Vivaldi did themselves arrange many of their works for different instruments. From this point of view the work of arranging Bach’s solo cello and violin pieces for recorder is something what Bach himself could have done, had he been inspired by a talented recorder player himself at the time of his compositions. For this recording several different recorders were being chosen. For the 11 movements written for the violin original keys were kept by changing the recorders accordingly. The cello suites are being played by one recorder only by transposing the original keys down a minor second. Bolette Roed is an award-winning artist who regularly performs with major Danish orchestras as well as with early music ensembles and baroque orchestras in various countries. Roed strives to extend the instrument’s repertoire beyond its established role in Early Music, towards new frontiers of improvisation, folk, and world music. She further aspires to adapt canonical classical works to the recorder and stays in constant dialogue with and commissions new works from today’s composers.

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Bach: Sonatas, Partitas & Suites / Roed
Ondine Jun 2018
CD
$18.99

Johann Bernhard Bach: Ouvertures / Joubert-Caillet, L'Acheron

Ricercar

$20.99 Oct 28, 2016

Johann Bernhard Bach (1676-1749) is a relatively unknown member of the Bach family. He is more widely known by association to his famous first cousin once removed, Johann Sebastian. A disciple of Pachelbel, Johann Bernhard was in the service of the court of Eisenach and left us only instrumental music. His four Ouvertures for orchestra constitute the obvious link between French music of the Grand Siecle and the compositions that Johann Sebastian would write in Weimar and Cothen. This release is an interesting missing link to be rediscovered.

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Johann Bernhard Bach: Ouvertures / Joubert-Caillet, L'Acheron
Ricercar Oct 2016
CD
$20.99

Naxos Bach Edition 1 - Concertos For Oboe, Oboe D'amore

Naxos

$19.99 Jan 01, 2000

It's well known that the vast majority of what have come down to us as Bach's Harpsichord Concertos were originally written for violin, oboe, oboe d'amore, or some combination of the two. The originals have all disappeared, but reconstructions are possible within a very small margin of error, particularly in the case of the Double Concerto BWV 1060, which has been performed and enjoyed in its original form for violin and oboe (or oboe d'amore) for more than half a century. Naxos' complete edition of Bach's orchestral music properly includes the most famous of all the reconstructions, the violin version of the Harpsichord Concerto in D minor BWV 1052, in the violin concerto volume of this series, leaving this disc to the double concerto noted above, as well as four oboe/oboe d'amore works. Soloists Christian Hummel and Lisa Stewart offer attractive, tastefully ornamented, sweet-toned performances on modern instruments that take into account period performance practice. For anyone who enjoys Bach's orchestral music or the more familiar harpsichord versions of these works, this disc is self-recommending. --David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

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Naxos Bach Edition 1 - Concertos For Oboe, Oboe D'amore
Naxos Jan 2000
CD
$19.99