Recommendations wanted on best J.S. Bach Cantatas ( complete on period instruments )
Dave J.G.
I would like to hear people's recommendations on the best J.S. Bach Cantatas. I am
looking for a *complete* series on period instruments and at least ADD quality.
Please post replys to this thread. No need to CC to me, I read these newsgroups
daily.
Dave Grossman
Dave's J.S. Bach Page
http://www.unpronounceable.com/bach
--
( reply-to address changed to avoid the spammers,
use the following e-mail address )
daveg AT unpronounceable.com
http://www.unpronounceable.com/daves
Donald Patterson
Dave J.G. wrote:
>
> I would like to hear people's recommendations on the best J.S. Bach Cantatas. I am
> looking for a *complete* series on period instruments and at least ADD quality.
> Please post replys to this thread. No need to CC to me, I read these newsgroups
> daily.
>
> Dave Grossman
You have exactly one choice...Harnoncourt. I find his Cantata set
to be a mixed bag at best. His choir is not always (or often) very
well blended, and the articulation style in the strings can become
tiresome quickly. Also, his boy soloists, good as they are, cannot
deliver their arias with the depth of feeling that an adult can.
Some are very good, but most that IMHO are rather eccentric. A new
set begun by Ton Koopman for Erato, is excellent. Only about 3-4
volumes are out so far. The only other *complete* set is on modern
instruments by Helmut Rilling on Hanssler. I have read that they are
good solid readings, on the whole, but not the best that could be done.
The Richter set on Archiv is not complete.
--
Don Patterson <don...@erols.com>
"The President's Own"
United States Marine Band
Concerned about the state of the Mac?
Visit: http://www.MacMarines.com
The views expressed are my own and in no way reflect
those of the U.S. Marine Band or the Marine Corps.
Dave J.G.
> Some are very good, but most that IMHO are rather eccentric. A new
> set begun by Ton Koopman for Erato, is excellent. Only about 3-4
> volumes are out so far. The only other *complete* set is on modern
Thanks for the recommendations. I am open to complete sets that are under
construction. I couldn't buy them all at once anyway. I like Ton Koopman's work so
I may look into that set.
Sincerely,
Dave Grossman
Ryan Hare
Dave J.G. (n...@spammers.com) wrote:
: > Some are very good, but most that IMHO are rather eccentric. A new
: > set begun by Ton Koopman for Erato, is excellent. Only about 3-4
: > volumes are out so far. The only other *complete* set is on modern
: Thanks for the recommendations. I am open to complete sets that are under
: construction. I couldn't buy them all at once anyway. I like Ton Koopman's work so
: I may look into that set.
I'd like to second the recommendation for Koopman's ongoing set. I have
only the first volume, but it has given my a lot of very enjoyable
listening. If my budget weren't what it is, I'd have snapped up the others
by now.
Ryan Hare
rh...@u.washington.edu
Alan Swindells
In article <33C933...@erols.com>, Donald Patterson <*NOSPAM*@erols.com>
wrote:
> Dave J.G. wrote:
> >
> > I would like to hear people's recommendations on the best J.S. Bach
> Cantatas. I am
> > looking for a *complete* series on period instruments and at least ADD
> quality.
> > Please post replys to this thread. No need to CC to me, I read these
> newsgroups
> > daily.
> >
> > Dave Grossman
>
> You have exactly one choice...Harnoncourt. I find his Cantata set
> to be a mixed bag at best. His choir is not always (or often) very
> well blended, and the articulation style in the strings can become
> tiresome quickly. Also, his boy soloists, good as they are, cannot
> deliver their arias with the depth of feeling that an adult can.
Well, actually...
The set you refer to is a joint effort, originally issued on vast
numbers of 2 LP sets, with alternating LPs taken by Harnoncourt
and by Gustav Leonhardt. Yes it is variable, but at its best it is
very fine. What is more, some of the boys are very good indeed.
Currently available on (is it 5?) 6CD sets. (The original packing
was superb, BTW, sumptuous boxes, excellent programme notes and
full scores. That's right, full scores!)
There are at present 2 ongoing cycles of the cantatas under way on
period instruments, by Ton Toopman on Erato, being issued in 3 disc
sets, so far, and by his erstwhile pupil Masaaki Suzuki, on BIS.
Both are issuing the Cantatas in approximately chronological order
of composition. From what I have heard so far, I slightly prefer
Suzuki, but as with any other project of this size it will almost
certainly end up being preferable to pick and choose.
(I am just hoping ATM that when Hyperion have got the Schubert
Edition and the complete Liszt out of the way Ted Perry might
be persuaded to allow Robert King to do a series. He recently
collaborated with the Tolz Boys Choir in some very successful
performances of the B minor Mass, one of which I attended - the
Dona Nobis Pacem is /still/ ringing in my ears - and which was
subsequently recorded. That is but a dream, probably. :-( )
--
Regards: Alan * alan...@argonet.co.uk *
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ed Clemmons
em...@netcom.com wrote:
>This morning I heard part of a Koopman recording (Ich bin vergnuegt, I
>think) on the car radio and was a bit put off by the continuo: an overmiked
>harpsichord with 4' stops pulled that drowned the solo violin. Is this
>exceptional or a typical approach for this series?
> Richard Mix, em...@netcom.com
>
I have listen to the partially completed Koopman recordings of the Bach
Cantatas and am very pleased with the sound balance. I have never noticed
a problem with the continuo sections. I believe you should listened to a
CD on a good system to judge his recordings, using a car radio seems a
little unfair to me. When completed, I think they will be the best
complete series available for Bach's Cantatas.
em...@netcom.com
ajo...@alias.cyberpass.net
On Sun, 13 Jul 1997 15:58:45 -0400, Donald Patterson <*NOSPAM*@erols.com> wrote:
> > I would like to hear people's recommendations on the best J.S. Bach > > Cantatas.
> You have exactly one choice...Harnoncourt. I find his Cantata set
> to be a mixed bag at best. His choir is not always (or often) very
> well blended, and the articulation style in the strings can become
> tiresome quickly. Also, his boy soloists, good as they are, cannot
> deliver their arias with the depth of feeling that an adult can.
> Some are very good, but most that IMHO are rather eccentric.
The Harnoncourt set was recorded in the very early days of 'authentic'
productions. Much that was experimental was used and has failed to stand
the test of time. In general the early recordings were more likely to
be eccentric than the later, some of which are superb in my opinion.
I have never been entirely sure from the information provided just which
recordings were done by Harnoncourt and which by Leonhardt. Has anyone
more information about this?
Ed Clemmons
"Dave J.G." <n...@spammers.com> wrote:
>
>I would like to hear people's recommendations on the best J.S. Bach Cantatas. I am
>looking for a *complete* series on period instruments and at least ADD quality.
>Please post replys to this thread. No need to CC to me, I read these newsgroups
>daily.
>
> Dave Grossman
>
>( reply-to address changed to avoid the spammers,
> use the following e-mail address )
>daveg AT unpronounceable.com
>http://www.unpronounceable.com/daves
>
There are only two complete series for Bach's Cantatas. One is by Rilling
with modern instruments and the other is by Teldec which is conducted by
either Harnoncourt or Leonhardt. I would recommend Rilling as the
perfomances by Teldec are somewhat inconsistant.
Koopman is currently working under the Erato label to complete the series
with original instruments. However, he does use female singers, which
IMHO is a plus as the boys just can match the men. Also, he has only
completed four volumes of a planned 20 volume set.
I am very please with the performances by Koopman. I think they are
first rate, easily superior to the Teldec and Rilling series.
Robert Jorgensen
I've had the Harnoncourt/Leonhardt since they were first released on LP
(Vol 1 in 1971) and later on CD. I've never tired of them although they
have many imperfections. There are many highlights though, eg BWV 1 for an
early recording and BWV170 for a later one.
I've bought the first four volumes of Koopman's set but am rather
disappointed with it. Barbara Schlick's warbling really offends me ears. If
he had to use women, why couldn't he have used Emma Kirkby?
I like the Herrweghe recordings, very refined and relaxed but with great
power. Trouble is, he hasn't recorded too many.
Rumour is John Eliot Gardiner is to commence a complete cycle and if so, I
think would be the one to go for.
Robert Jorgensen
Ryan Hare <rh...@saul9.u.washington.edu> wrote in article
<5qbh74$m...@nntp4.u.washington.edu>...
Donald Patterson
Robert Jorgensen wrote:
>
> I've had the Harnoncourt/Leonhardt since they were first released on LP
> (Vol 1 in 1971) and later on CD. I've never tired of them although they
> have many imperfections. There are many highlights though, eg BWV 1 for an
> early recording and BWV170 for a later one.
> I've bought the first four volumes of Koopman's set but am rather
> disappointed with it. Barbara Schlick's warbling really offends me ears. If
> he had to use women, why couldn't he have used Emma Kirkby?
> I like the Herrweghe recordings, very refined and relaxed but with great
> power. Trouble is, he hasn't recorded too many.
> Rumour is John Eliot Gardiner is to commence a complete cycle and if so, I
> think would be the one to go for.
This is good news for me. I am an admirer of Gardiner's Bach. Have not
heard
Herreweghe's Cantatas, but I love his St. Matthew Passion.
Chuck Nessa
Robert Jorgensen wrote:
>
> I've had the Harnoncourt/Leonhardt since they were first released on LP
> (Vol 1 in 1971) and later on CD. I've never tired of them although they
> have many imperfections. There are many highlights though, eg BWV 1 for an
> early recording and BWV170 for a later one.
> I've bought the first four volumes of Koopman's set but am rather
> disappointed with it. Barbara Schlick's warbling really offends me ears. If
> he had to use women, why couldn't he have used Emma Kirkby?
> I like the Herrweghe recordings, very refined and relaxed but with great
> power. Trouble is, he hasn't recorded too many.
> Rumour is John Eliot Gardiner is to commence a complete cycle and if so, I
> think would be the one to go for.
>
>
> Ryan Hare <rh...@saul9.u.washington.edu> wrote in article
> <5qbh74$m...@nntp4.u.washington.edu>...
> > Dave J.G. (n...@spammers.com) wrote:
> > : > Some are very good, but most that IMHO are rather eccentric. A new
> > : > set begun by Ton Koopman for Erato, is excellent. Only about 3-4
> > : > volumes are out so far. The only other *complete* set is on modern
> >
> > : Thanks for the recommendations. I am open to complete sets that are
> under
> > : construction. I couldn't buy them all at once anyway. I like Ton
> Koopman's work so
> > : I may look into that set.
> >
> > I'd like to second the recommendation for Koopman's ongoing set. I have
> > only the first volume, but it has given my a lot of very enjoyable
> > listening. If my budget weren't what it is, I'd have snapped up the
> others
> > by now.
> >
> > Ryan Hare
> > rh...@u.washington.edu
> >
> >
Yeah, what a great idea...a huge body of work by one "interpreter". Then
you don't have to think (or post again). Welcome to America at the end
of the century.
Chuck Nessa
Gary R. Kern
In article <01bc9034$ed31e320$6882...@hostx.domainx>, "Robert Jorgensen"
<rhjor...@dgjones.com> wrote:
> I've bought the first four volumes of Koopman's set but am rather
> disappointed with it. Barbara Schlick's warbling really offends me ears. If
> he had to use women, why couldn't he have used Emma Kirkby?
Enthusiastically seconded! I too wish that EK were featured. I read
someplace that another soprano will be singing starting with Vol 4 or 5.
Vol 4 is currently offered at 1/2 price from BMG.
--- Gary
Andrew Block
I'll THIRD the recommendation of the Koopman/ABO Erato set! I have the
first 4 Volumes and there's some amazing material contained within.
Already looking forward to Vol. 5...
One feature of the ABO recordings that I've really started to like is
that Koopman includes "appendixes" for several cantatas where Bach
re-wrote or re-arranged movements of the same material, for different
instuments and/or occasions. By including these, you don't have to
wonder what it might have sounded like the "other" way.
Patrick Lindblom
Ed Clemmons wrote:
[snip]
> I am very please with the performances by Koopman. I think they are
> first rate, easily superior to the Teldec and Rilling series.
I agree. Having listened to some different recordings that I like, I
finally chose Koopman/Erato. I have all the released volumes and even if
there *are* imperfections I rate the cycle very, very high. So far.
I might add that Gardiner is also of interest to me, when he commence
his work. Even if I won't buy two complete Cantata sets I will certainly
monitor Gardiner's, simply because I have the passions, oratorios and
the B-minor Mass with him - and I'm extremely satisfied. Gardiner and
Koopman are my true favourites when it comes to vocal Bach.
Regards,
Patrick Lindblom
Mario Martinoli
Dave J.G. <n...@spammers.com> wrote in article
<01bc8f4f$a86f8340$5e9a70cf@dave>...
>
> I would like to hear people's recommendations on the best J.S. Bach
Cantatas. I am
> looking for a *complete* series on period instruments and at least ADD
quality.
> Please post replys to this thread. No need to CC to me, I read these
newsgroups
> daily.
>
> Dave Grossman
Difficult to say.
There are in my view two HIP versions which are worth mentioning:
1. Harnoncourt+Leonhardt, started 1972, ended 1988, now available ADD on
CD.
It will be easy to listen to out-of-tune horns and trumpets and ... , the
sound is often rather "dry", in addition the performance of some titles is
rather weak and singers are in some cases "rari nantes in gurgite vasto"
... BUT ... some numbers are simply astonishing in their beauty (I usually
take BWV25 as an example, but many others are there) and not only for the
music. They got it!
2. Koopman, started 1994 (I believe) not ended yet.
Very, very professional version, good instrumentalists, very good choir, I
believe this will become the reference edition for the future generations
... BUT ... IMHO tempi are sometimes too fast and brisk. Much for the
audience, less for the souls ...
I heard about a "Japanese" edition which seems to be very good, at least
for the references I got, but I didn't listen any track from them yet.
Good luck!
Mario
Ed Clemmons
HEY! Who is BMG? I hate paying full price for these volumes.
BTW, I kinda like Schlick. Also, Mertens( spelling?) is a great bass,
except he loses a little power on the low notes. For example, the
arioso( I think its an aria! You know, the ol' da capa thingy. )"Tag und
Nacht" from #71 could have used someone like Theo Adam to give the full
bell like resonance at the low end of the bass range. However, I am
quibbling. I am very pleased with the overall quality of the Koopman set.
Ed Clemmons
"Dave J.G." <n...@spammers.com> wrote:
>
>I would like to hear people's recommendations on the best J.S. Bach Cantatas. I am
>looking for a *complete* series on period instruments and at least ADD quality.
>Please post replys to this thread. No need to CC to me, I read these newsgroups
>daily.
>
> Dave Grossman
>
>http://www.unpronounceable.com/bach
>--
>( reply-to address changed to avoid the spammers,
> use the following e-mail address )
>daveg AT unpronounceable.com
>http://www.unpronounceable.com/daves
>
>
Is it possible you also wish to know the "best" Cantatas. Like on Simon
Crouch's web page he rates the Cantatas. His top 20 favorites are:
1, 11, 21, 23, 34, 50, 56, 60, 65, 66, 78, 80, 82, 104, 105, 106, 140,
161, 180, 198
I would be tempted to mention a few, but I LOVE the Cantatas. I would be
hard pressed to keep a "favorites" list under 50 Cantatas. I think
everyone of these twenty are materpieces. The variety, ingenuity and
overall quality of the Cantatas never ceases to amaze me!
Robert Jorgensen
What I find remarkable about Koopman is the difference in his approach to
the cantatas compared with that to the organ works. In the organ works (up
to vol 5 on teldec) he is idiosyncratic but always full of vitality. I'm
afraid I find his cantatas, and the passions for that matter, rather
dreary. It seems odd, perverse even, that there are these two sides - or is
it me?
Robert Jorgensen
Ed Clemmons <bo...@bitbucket.com> wrote in article <7e7cd$812a.3ac@NEWS>...
> Koopman is currently working under the Erato label to complete the series
> with original instruments. However, he does use female singers, which
> IMHO is a plus as the boys just can match the men. Also, he has only
> completed four volumes of a planned 20 volume set.
>
em...@netcom.com
Ed Clemmons (bo...@bitbucket.com) answered me:
: >This morning I heard part of a Koopman recording (Ich bin vergnuegt, I
: >harpsichord with 4' stops pulled that drowned the solo violin. Is this
: >exceptional or a typical approach for this series?
: CD on a good system to judge his recordings, using a car radio seems a
My question should have been: does he always use harpsichord in
preference to organ or lute, and if so, is it always the same player/full
style/close miking? I'm not at all sure a better sound system would
satisfy my yearning for clearly audible obligato parts (my personal taste),
and I do almost all my listening (to recordings) in the car anyway.
Richard Mix, em...@netcom.com
Benedikt Vennemann
On 13 Jul 1997 05:41:03 GMT, "Dave J.G." <n...@spammers.com> wrote:
>
>I would like to hear people's recommendations on the best J.S. Bach Cantatas. I am
>looking for a *complete* series on period instruments and at least ADD quality.
>Please post replys to this thread. No need to CC to me, I read these newsgroups
>daily.
This reply may be a bit off topic as I like to recommend a series of
recordings of J.S. Bach's cantatas that is far from being complete
(yet?). I am talking about John Eliot Gardiners recordings with his
splendid Monteverdi Choir and the Engish Baroque Soloist. So far at
least three volumes each containing two or three cantatas have been
released on "Deutsche Grammophon Archiv Prduktion" . IMHO these are
the best recordings on period instruments available today.
Benedikt Vennemann
Dave J.G.
> This reply may be a bit off topic as I like to recommend a series of
> recordings of J.S. Bach's cantatas that is far from being complete
> (yet?). I am talking about John Eliot Gardiners recordings with his
> splendid Monteverdi Choir and the Engish Baroque Soloist. So far at
> least three volumes each containing two or three cantatas have been
> released on "Deutsche Grammophon Archiv Prduktion" . IMHO these are
> the best recordings on period instruments available today.
I have all three of those and I also have Gardiner's St. Matthew, and St. John
Passions, the Mass in B minor and I'm expecting the Christmas Oratorio in the mail
any day now. Needless to say, I enjoy those recordings very much. I was hoping to
find a complete Cantatas set comparable to Gardiner's. Someone mentioned that
there's a rumour that Gardiner is supposed to be starting on the complete Cantatas
soon. I will probably hold off on getting any Cantatas sets until that rumour is
confirmed or denied.
Dave
Andrew Block
I'd certainly be interested if Robert King began recording cantatas.
I've seen one disc out where he's recorded 3 solo cantatas (no choir)
with James Bowman on Hyperion, but that's it.
Unfortunately, I haven't heard King's new B minor recording yet.
Despite the bad reviews it's getting (mostly pertaining to the
inadequacies of the Tolz boy's choir), I have a hard time believing it's
that bad. Everything else I've heard from King has been SUPERB.
Alan Swindells
In article <1997071414...@sirius.infonex.com>,
ajo...@alias.cyberpass.net wrote:
>
> I have never been entirely sure from the information provided just which
> recordings were done by Harnoncourt and which by Leonhardt. Has anyone
> more information about this?
>
Let's see.
Harnoncourt: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25,
26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43,
44, 47, 48, 49, 50, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 68, 69,
69a, 70, 71, 72, 76, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 93, 94, 95,
96, 97, 101, 102, 104, 105, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 115, 116,
119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 130, 131, 136, 137, 138,
139, 140, 145, 146, 147, 148, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 161, 162,
163, 167, 168, 169, 171, 173, 174, 177, 178, 179, 182, 183, 185,
186, 188, 192, 194, 196, 199
Leonhardt: 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 22, 23, 32, 33, 45, 46,
51, 52, 54, 55, 56, 66, 67, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 88, 89, 90,
91, 92, 98, 99, 100, 103, 106, 107, 113, 114, 117, 127, 128, 129,
132, 133, 134, 135, 143, 144, 149, 150, 151, 157, 158, 159, 164,
165, 166, 170, 172, 175, 176, 180, 181, 184, 187, 195, 197, 198
All this comes from an old database and may not be 100% accurate,
as I no longer have the LPs to check it against (don't ask).
The current CD issue is in the form of ten 6-CD sets containing:
1) 1 - 19
2) 20 - 36
3) 37 - 60
4) 61 - 78
5) 79 - 99
6) 100 - 117
7) 119 - 137
8) 138 - 162
9) 163 - 182
10) 183 - 199
The missing numbers are of cantatas believed not to be by Bach at
the time the series was planned, and of those secular cantatas
with the higher numbers (around the BWV 200 mark, plus or minus a
few).
Dennis Prager
The new series from Japanese artists on BIS wins decisively in my view.
Dennis Prager
KABC Radio
Los Angeles
Dave J.G. <n...@spammers.com> wrote in article
<01bc8f4f$a86f8340$5e9a70cf@dave>...
>
> I would like to hear people's recommendations on the best J.S. Bach
Cantatas. I am
> looking for a *complete* series on period instruments and at least ADD
quality.
> Please post replys to this thread. No need to CC to me, I read these
newsgroups
> daily.
>
> Dave Grossman
>
> Dave's J.S. Bach Page
> http://www.unpronounceable.com/bach
Alan Swindells
Curiously enough, the reviews on this side of the pond have been very
good indeed.
ajo...@alias.cyberpass.net
On Wed, 16 Jul 1997 19:56:25 BST, Alan Swindells <alan...@argonet.co.uk> wrote:
> > I have never been entirely sure from the information provided just which
> > recordings were done by Harnoncourt and which by Leonhardt. Has anyone
> > more information about this?
>
> Let's see.
>
> Harnoncourt: (etc)
>
> Leonhardt: (etc)
> All this comes from an old database and may not be 100% accurate,
> as I no longer have the LPs to check it against (don't ask).
>
> The current CD issue is in the form of ten 6-CD sets containing: (etc)
Very many thanks, Alan. This is of the greatest value to me. I didn't expect
to get any answer - indeed doubted if anyone now knew outside the recording
company.
Donald Patterson
Alan Swindells wrote:
>
> Let's see.
>
> Harnoncourt: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25,
> 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43,
> 44, 47, 48, 49, 50, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 68, 69,
> 69a, 70, 71, 72, 76, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 93, 94, 95,
> 96, 97, 101, 102, 104, 105, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 115, 116,
> 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 130, 131, 136, 137, 138,
> 139, 140, 145, 146, 147, 148, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 161, 162,
> 163, 167, 168, 169, 171, 173, 174, 177, 178, 179, 182, 183, 185,
> 186, 188, 192, 194, 196, 199
>
> Leonhardt: 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 22, 23, 32, 33, 45, 46,
> 51, 52, 54, 55, 56, 66, 67, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 88, 89, 90,
> 91, 92, 98, 99, 100, 103, 106, 107, 113, 114, 117, 127, 128, 129,
> 132, 133, 134, 135, 143, 144, 149, 150, 151, 157, 158, 159, 164,
> 165, 166, 170, 172, 175, 176, 180, 181, 184, 187, 195, 197, 198
>
Wow! I had no idea Leonhardt contributed that much to the series.
Of the old LP boxes that I own, I have always preferred
leonhardt's performances to Harnoncourt's. Pity that he
didn't do the entire set. His choruses always seem to produce
a better blend of the voices, and his orchestra always played
with a smoother sonority than Harnoncourt's.
Oh well...just my 2 cents.
John L. Robinson
Dave J.G. wrote:
>
> I would like to hear people's recommendations on the best J.S. Bach Cantatas.
Maybe not the best possible recordings, but an interesting paradigm: Nikolaus
Harnoncourt and Concentus musicus Wien.
Re HIP performances: Koopman, Gardiner, and Herreweghe are technically excellent; but,
to me, they are uninspiring. The American Bach Soloists under Jeffrey Thomas are scary.
(How a single ensemble can be so emotionless AND frantic is hard to comprehend.) I’ve
only heard tiny snatches of other HIP performances, of varying quality.
I have seen reference to Harnoncourt’s performances as "eccentric". This is most apt.
They are also of VERY uneven technical quality, and can indeed get to be a bit much
after a while. Yet, it is this very energy that makes these performances great.
Sometimes, Harnoncourt joyously waltzes along – you can really feel the dance that is at
the core of so much Baroque music. Sometimes, though, his performances reach an
exquisite delicacy. In the bass aria "Schlummert ein, ihr matten Augen" from Cantata 82
("Ich habe genung"), Harnoncourt magnificently balances the worldweariness of the text
with the reassuring tenderness of the music, so that you can *feel* in your soul the
anticipation of the better life to come.
Harnoncourt is NOT for everyone; maybe you have to be eccentric to appreciate him. (That
probably explains my enthusiasm.) If, however, you’re willing to make the effort to hear
what underlies the performance – the energy and passion – he is well worth the effort.
John Robinson
Michelle Dulak
John L. Robinson wrote (in part):
> The American Bach Soloists under Jeffrey Thomas are scary.
>(How a single ensemble can be so emotionless AND frantic is hard to comprehend.)
I can only wonder which volumes of the series you've heard. ABS's
recordings of some of the Muehlhausen and Weimar cantatas (e.g.,
"Weinen, Klagen," "Aus der Tiefe," "Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee")
are as good as any I've heard, and certainly neither inexpressive nor
"frantic." And no one who has heard the Kyrie I of their Bm Mass is
going to accuse it of undue haste. :-)
The earlier volumes of the series do strike me as a little uneven, and
there are individual performances (e.g. BWV 54 on the first volume)
that I would say are too fast and too matter-of-fact . But anyone not
utterly allergic to one-on-a-part performance of the early cantatas
should check out Volumes 4 (BWV 4, 131, 182) and 5 (BWV 12, 18, 61) of
the ABS series. To my ear, at least, this is rich, expressive, and
intelligent music-making.
Michelle Dulak
sa...@voicenet.com
"John L. Robinson" <jrob...@westworld.com> wrote:
>Dave J.G. wrote:
>>
>> I would like to hear people's recommendations on the best J.S. Bach Cantatas.
>Sometimes, Harnoncourt joyously waltzes along – you can really feel the dance that is at
>the core of so much Baroque music.
As I think I said here once, it is precisely _this_ quality that drew
me to Harnoncourt's Bach Cantatas and the Christmas Oratorio as well,
this quality that I had not appreciated untill it danced out of the
speakers. I think it is even there in the Passions, ('Sehet Jesus hat
die Hand' from the Matthew Passion for instance) there in the
B Minor Mass...
>Harnoncourt is NOT for everyone; maybe you have to be eccentric to appreciate him. (That
>probably explains my enthusiasm.)
>John Robinson
Me too perhaps; thanks, John, for putting it 'in print'.
Sam Wells