Search - Bach J.S, Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists :: Bach J.S: Cantatas Bwv 4 & 131

A voice teacher and early music fan

George Peabody | Planet Earth | 06/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"CLEVER BACH MAKES USE OF LUTHER'S POWERFUL EASTER HYMN!!!!



The cantata "Christ lag in Todesbanden" (Christ lay in death's dark prison), is the strictest chorale cantata Bach ever wrote: every one of the seven stanzas of Luther's powerful Easter hymn (based on a twelfth century melody)is set, and each setting is a variation upon its tune of 1524. Stylistically it has been assigned to Bach's tenure at St. Blaise, Muhlhausen (1707-08). It is not just the absence of recitative and da capo arias which mark this as an 'early' work: the symmetrical structure of the work, the display of contrapuntal virtuosity, and the extreme emotional intensity make the time fairly obvious.



'Aus der Tiefe rufe ich, herr, zu dir' (Out of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord) has a text which is a combinaton of Psalm 131, 'De Profundis' and two verses of a 16th century Lenten hymn 'Herr Jesu Christ....'The structure of the five movements is symmetrical, alternating choral settings of the psalm text with duets based on the two hymm stanzas. The five movements are meant to follow on continuously: a very different scheme from the chain of recitatives and extended da capo arias that came in his later cantatas.



This recording by the Monteverdi Choir under the directon of John Eliot Gardiner was recorded in London in 1980, so this disc is a remastering, but it is EXCELLENT!. The singing is emtionally gripping, with clear diction and lovely tone quality. The English Baroque soloists are skilled and provide a sensitve and quality accompaniment. The soloists in the cantata 131 are : Wm. Kendall-tenor, Stephen Varcoe-baritone. There is no question that they know how to sing Bach. I really enjoyed this recording although it was over too soon; about 45 minutes in all."