Favourite Bach Cantatas

[richardfinegold]

The last volume of the Suzuki/Japan Bach Collegium Cantatas series has been released on BIS (Volume 55). I have about half of the series, but gave up trying to be a completist a few years ago. No doubt in a few years the whole set will be offered at a steep discount so I will bide my time. I also have assorted other miscellany of the Cantatas from the Koopman, Harnoncourt, and Gardiner sets
The series was 18 years in the making, and there were various diversions along the way. One of my favorites was the Suzuki recording of the Bach Orchestral Suites; there was also an excellent disc featuring Bach's Magnificat that was paired with Magnificats of Zelenka and Kuhlau;
somewhat less successful was their St. Mathews Passion, which I didn't find competing very successfully with several other versions.
It would be heresy, of course, to suggest that some works of J.S. Bach are tending towards the routine. Yet it is inescapable; some of these works are decidedly lesser in stature to the truly monumental ones.
Can someone suggest a "Bach Cantata Playlist"? Or to be crass a "Bach Cantata Greatest Hits" list. I'd love to make a playlist of the top 30 or so recommendations. I'm sure that I must be missing quite a few gems.

[Thropplenoggin]

Nice thread, Richard.

I'll nominate BWV 106 'Actus Tragicus' with Suzuki & co. That recorder sonatina at the start still startles me by its harmonic audacity, and the fact I didn't think I liked recorders, which usually bring on Primary School flashbacks of 'Three Blind Mice'.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Can't pretend to be familiar with all of them but my nomination is no. 82, Ich habe genug. And to shew my HIPP credentials I'll stick(e) with the Hans Hotter recording, in slight preference to my other one, the Gerard Souzay

[MickyD]

I absolutely adore this aria from Cantata 68, wonderfully performed here by the young Peter Jelosits from the legendary Harnoncourt/Leonhardt set:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImPY64vmy4M&list=FLBc5HbFSu_TDvzxC8-xga4Q&index=21

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Sixteen hours since the last comment, I think this is a Thread that deserves a "bump".

Four years ago, finally reaching the end of my patience with all breakfast Radio, I started listening to the Bach Cantatas first thing each morning (well, not quite "first", but ... ): one Cantata each week, it very soon took the place of late afternoon listening, too - so, over the years, I have managed to hear most of the Cantatas about twenty times each (double that in cases where different recordings duplicated works that I already had in other performances) - and still have 63 to go!

What has struck me over this time is that there has not been one work that hasn't failed to surprise and delight me with its melodic, harmonic and Tonal inventiveness and expressivity, or the range of formal/structural devices, the mastery of instrumentation, the pacing and placing of ensemble balance. The more I get to know these works, the greater their entrancement. Against all odds, Bach (working to write one every week for three years alongside other works and his directing and teaching duties) pulled off the impossible and created masterpiece (and if that overused word has any meaning, it is here - these pieces are masterly constructions of a masterly imagination and sensitivity) after masterpiece. Here it isn't "heresy" to suggest that any "tend towards the routine", but ignorance.

Now, it may possibly be the case that I've been incredibly lucky, and that the "routine-tendors" all appear within the 63 I don't know yet. But, if it is "inescapable" that "some of these works are decidedly lesser in stature to the truly monumental ones" (and leaving aside the assumption that "the truly monumental" infers "greater" stature) I would be interested in hearing what criteria would lead an attentive listener "inescapably" to such a "decision".

For myself, I would recommend anyone to pick any Cantata at random and live with it for a week - and then repeat the experience with another. (The six Cantatas of the Christmas Oratorio are as good a place to begin as any) - Life, the Universe and everything will appear 42 times better as a result.

[gurnemanz]

I remember happening upon this listing a while ago. As the complier writes: "Ratings are meaningless" but it's a worthwhile guide. One long standing favourite of mine is Cantata 21 - Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis.

[gamba]

Nice thread, Richard.

I'll nominate BWV 106 'Actus Tragicus' with Suzuki & co. That recorder sonatina at the start still startles me by its harmonic audacity, and the fact I didn't think I liked recorders, which usually bring on Primary School flashbacks of 'Three Blind Mice'.

My Dear Thropple etc.

As we share such a great love for BWV 106 you MUST hear/see my favourite version - nothing else will do !!

You'll find it on utube;

Leonhardt - Koopman - Bruggen - Jacobs & others, all from the true beginnings of Early Music.
Also a most beautiful visual presentation - nothing to compare with it.

Don't be unkind to the recorder - except the smallest version, as used in schools, with that, yes, I would agree.
( I shall enclose a previous contribution to these pages );

" To those with reservations regarding the alto recorder, I would like to invite them to listen to the opening passages of Bach's cantata n. 106, ' Gottes Zeit ist die Allerbeste Zeit. '

The two recorders express an air of sepulchral solemnity ( my expression ! ) - a hollow tone ideally suited to the occasion. These, plus two viola da gambas, " their veiled timbre belongs to the very essence of the music " to quote Albert Schweitzer, provide an atmosphere & aural experience unobtainable with modern instruments." Don't dare mention flutes !

I do hope you manage to locate ' my ' version conducted bt Gustav Leonhardt with a cast beyond comparison.

Of course, you may think it slightly 'old fashioned, ' but then so was Bach.

All good wishes, especially so, for joining in such a pleasing subject.

ps. as you probably know it wasn't really meant to be a sad occasion, solemnity rather than grief.

All good wishes , gamba

[Thropplenoggin]

My Dear Thropple etc.

As we share such a great love for BWV 106 you MUST hear/see my favourite version - nothing else will do !!

You'll find it on utube;

Leonhardt - Koopman - Bruggen - Jacobs & others, all from the true beginnings of Early Music.
Also a most beautiful visual presentation - nothing to compare with it.

Don't be unkind to the recorder - except the smallest version, as used in schools, with that, yes, I would agree.
( I shall enclose a previous contribution to these pages );

" To those with reservations regarding the alto recorder, I would like to invite them to listen to the opening passages of Bach's cantata n. 106, ' Gottes Zeit ist die Allerbeste Zeit. '

The two recorders express an air of sepulchral solemnity ( my expression ! ) - a hollow tone ideally suited to the occasion. These, plus two viola da gambas, " their veiled timbre belongs to the very essence of the music " to quote Albert Schweitzer, provide an atmosphere & aural experience unobtainable with modern instruments." Don't dare mention flutes !

I do hope you manage to locate ' my ' version conducted bt Gustav Leonhardt with a cast beyond comparison.

Of course, you may think it slightly 'old fashioned, ' but then so was Bach.

All good wishes, especially so, for joining in such a pleasing subject.

ps. as you probably know it wasn't really meant to be a sad occasion, solemnity rather than grief.

All good wishes , gamba

My Dear Gamba

Thank you for such a delightful reply. That was some encomium. I especially enjoyed the phrase 'sepulchral solemnity'. I believe I have located this ne plus ultra account and have spent a wonderful 21 minutes being transported by it. I now embed it so that others may likewise become acquainted with its wonders.

I beg to remain your most humble servant, etc.

More felicity anon,

Thropples

[jean]

I remember happening upon this listing a while ago...

I'm interested to see that my personal favourite comes in at no. 6 in the A* category.

That's No. 50, Nun ist das Heil, which is nothing but a wonderful double chorus - I sometimes hesitate to put it forward on threads like these, because I've sometimes been disappointed when just hearing rather than singing it.

[ostuni]

Thank you, gamba & Thropples, for that video - musically wonderful, as you say, and fascinating to see all those elder statesmen of early music looking so young!

[gamba]

Thank you all for your kind replies.

I particularly love the way the recorders have ' the last word ' A really nice touch. Shows JSB had a sense of humour.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

This is such a difficult question. My favourite is nearly always the one I happen to be listening to. i'm working my way through the JEG set at present. The quality is so great in each and every one.

[Nick Armstrong]

This is perhaps a cheat but I think my favourite cantata movement of all is the opening chorus of BWV 8, "Liebster Gott, Wenn Werd Ich Sterben?" (The rest of the cantata isn't bad either).

I know no more touching and hypnotic music than this. JEG does it very well on his 'Pilgrimage' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmkfgA8mckc

[gurnemanz]

Bach Cantatas are for obvious reasons very special for Bach's fellow Leipzigers and even more so for those who lived there during the Third Reich and East German regimes during which individual spirituality was anathema and Bach's works were a balm for many people. I knew a man quite highly placed at the Gewandhaus in the mid 70s and I never forget him pointing out to me that being born in 1933 he had only ever lived under a dictatorship. The Gewandhaus and Thomaner Choir have the tradition of performing cantatas and motets every Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. My wife is from Leipzig and I have attended many times. Free of charge (2 Euro for programme). Surely a must if you visit the city.

[richardfinegold]

Bach Cantatas are for obvious reasons very special for Bach's fellow Leipzigers and even more so for those who lived there during the Third Reich and East German regimes during which individual spirituality was anathema and Bach's works were a balm for many people. I knew a man quite highly placed at the Gewandhaus in the mid 70s and I never forget him pointing out to me that being born in 1933 he had only ever lived under a dictatorship. The Gewandhaus and Thomaner Choir have the tradition of performing cantatas and motets every Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. My wife is from Leipzig and I have attended many times. Free of charge (2 Euro for programme). Surely a must if you visit the city.

Very moving post, gurne.
I have just returned from a performance of #62. There is a Lutheran Church in my town that has Cantata series every Sunday at 3p.m. One of my Patients (sadly deceased more than 20 years ago) used to be the Director and I used to attend regularly then although I didn't live in the area and the time was somewhat
on an inconvenience. Now I do live in the area and haven't been attending until today--I feel like flagellating myself for overlooking this.
There was an unfortunate lapse today that caused the second part to have to be restarted, but never mind, it was marvelous to hear these in a Church Setting.