Bach: Famous Choruses from Sacred Cantatas

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Gustav Leonhardt (Conductor), Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Conductor), Cambridge Choir of King's College (Orchestra), Concentus Musicus Wien (Orchestra), Leonhardt Consort (Orchestra), Leonhardt-Consort (Orchestra), Tölzer Knabenchor (Orchestra), Vienna Boys' Choir (Orchestra), Wiener Sängerknaben (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Cambridge Choir of King's College, Concentus Musicus Wien, Leonhardt Consort, Leonhardt-Consort, Tölzer Knabenchor, et al.
• Conductor: Gustav Leonhardt, Nikolaus Harnoncourt
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (January 11, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Teldec
• ASIN: B000000SLT
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #350,254 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Cantata BWV 147 Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben: Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben

2. Cantata BWV 12 Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen: Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen

3. BWV 31 Der Himmel lacht, die Erde jebilieret: Der Himmel lacht, die Erde jebilieret

4. Cantata BWV 140 Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme

5. Cantata BWV 147 Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben: Jesus beleibet Meine Freude

6. Cantata BWV 80 Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott: Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott

7. Cantata BWV 1 Wie schvn leuchtet der Morgerstern: Wie schvn leuchtet der Morgerstern

8. Cantata BWV 29 Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir: Sei Lob unf Preis mit Ehren

9. Cantata BWV 4 Christ lag in Todes Banden: Christ lag in Todes Banden

10. Cantata BWV 65 Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen: Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen

11. Cantata BWV 143 Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele: Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele

12. Cantata BWV 67 Halt im Geddchtnis Jesum Christ: Halt im Geddchtnis Jesum Christ

13. Cantata BWV 131 Aus der Teife rufe ich, Herr, zu dir: Aus der Teife rufe ich, Herr, zu dir

14. Cantata BWV 137 Lobe den Herrn, den machtigen Konig der Ehren: Lobe den Herrn

15. Cantata BWV 192 Nun danket alle Gott: Nun danket alle Gott

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stunning voices...however, December 6, 2002

By 

scott hickel - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bach: Famous Choruses from Sacred Cantatas (Audio CD)

The singing on this CD is unsurpassed, for what it is. Keep in mind that if you are not partial to boys' voices then this disc will not be to your taste. It is not necessarily a matter of authenticity. Yes, all male castes is the way Bach would have had it, but the idea seems too foreign for modern tastes.
Personally, after the initial experience of hearing boys play the roles of soprano, it is hard to go back. Indeed, there is a purity to the singing of found here that I have yet to find elsewhere.
There is one great reservation, this rendition of cantata no.80 is far inferior to the conductors other interperations of the same piece. Had I not known the disparity of the two, I may had given it five stars.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stunning voices...however, December 6, 2002

By 

scott hickel - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bach: Famous Choruses from Sacred Cantatas (Audio CD)

The singing on this CD is unsurpassed, for what it is. Keep in mind that if you are not partial to boys' voices then this disc will not be to your taste. It is not necessarily a matter of authenticity. Yes, all male castes is the way Bach would have had it, but the idea seems too foreign for modern tastes.
Personally, after the initial experience of hearing boys play the roles of soprano, it is hard to go back. Indeed, there is a purity to the singing of found here that I have yet to find elsewhere.
There is one great reservation, this rendition of cantata no.80 is far inferior to the conductors other interperations. Had I not known the disparity of the two, I may had given it five stars.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice performances, March 15, 2005

By 

Obi "Obi wan liberali" (SLC, UT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bach: Famous Choruses from Sacred Cantatas (Audio CD)

Leonhardt/Harnoncourt do a good job of recording period-like performances of Bach's cantatas. The boys voices are unique and fun to listen to. Probably not for the Bach novice. The use of period instruments and boy's voices will sound foreign at first. However, the music is beautiful never the less. All us Bach fans owe Harnoncourt and Leonhardt a great deal for their collection of recordings of Bach's wonderful cantatas. Thanks guys.

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