Secular Cantatas

Johann Sebastian Bach (Performer), Frieder Bernius (Performer), Michael Chance (Performer), Peter Kooy (Artist), Christoph Pregardien (Artist), Ruth Ziesak (Artist), Kammerchor Stuttgart (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Johann Sebastian Bach, Frieder Bernius, Michael Chance
• Audio CD (July 2, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000279V
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #589,727 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Cantata No. 207a, 'Auf, schmetternde Töne,' BWV 207a (BC G37): 1. Chorus, Auf, schmetternde Töne

2. Cantata No. 207a, 'Auf, schmetternde Töne,' BWV 207a (BC G37): 2. Recitativo, Die stille Pleiße spielt

3. Cantata No. 207a, 'Auf, schmetternde Töne,' BWV 207a (BC G37): 3. Aria, Augustus' Namenstages Schimmer

4. Cantata No. 207a, 'Auf, schmetternde Töne,' BWV 207a (BC G37): 4. Recitativo, Augustus' Wohl

5. Cantata No. 207a, 'Auf, schmetternde Töne,' BWV 207a (BC G37): 5. a) Duetto, Mich kann die süße Ruhe laben b) Ritornello

6. Cantata No. 207a, 'Auf, schmetternde Töne,' BWV 207a (BC G37): 6. Recitativo, Augustus schützt die frohen Felder

7. Cantata No. 207a, 'Auf, schmetternde Töne,' BWV 207a (BC G37): 7. Aria, Preiset, späte Folgezeiten

8. Cantata No. 207a, 'Auf, schmetternde Töne,' BWV 207a (BC G37): 8. Recitativo, Ihr Fröhlichen, herbei!

9. Cantata No. 207a, 'Auf, schmetternde Töne,' BWV 207a (BC G37): 9. Chorus, August lebe, lebe, König!

10. Cantata No. 206, 'Schleicht, spielende Wellen,' BWV 206 (BC G23, 26): 1. Chorus: Schleicht, spielende Wellen

11. Cantata No. 206, 'Schleicht, spielende Wellen,' BWV 206 (BC G23, 26): 2. Recitativo: O glückliche Veränderung

12. Cantata No. 206, 'Schleicht, spielende Wellen,' BWV 206 (BC G23, 26): 3. Aria: Schleuß des Janustempels Türen

13. Cantata No. 206, 'Schleicht, spielende Wellen,' BWV 206 (BC G23, 26): 4. Recitativo: So recht, beglückter Weichselstrom!

14. Cantata No. 206, 'Schleicht, spielende Wellen,' BWV 206 (BC G23, 26): 5. Aria: Jede Woge meiner Wellen

15. Cantata No. 206, 'Schleicht, spielende Wellen,' BWV 206 (BC G23, 26): 6. Recitativo: Ich nehm zugleich an deiner Freude teil

16. Cantata No. 206, 'Schleicht, spielende Wellen,' BWV 206 (BC G23, 26): 7. Aria: Reis von Habsburgs hohem Stamme

17. Cantata No. 206, 'Schleicht, spielende Wellen,' BWV 206 (BC G23, 26): 8. Recitativo: Verzeiht, bemooste Häupter starker Ströme

18. Cantata No. 206, 'Schleicht, spielende Wellen,' BWV 206 (BC G23, 26): 9. Aria: Hört doch! Der sanften Flöten Chor

19. Cantata No. 206, 'Schleicht, spielende Wellen,' BWV 206 (BC G23, 26): 10. Recitativo: Ich muß, ich will gehorsam sein

20. Cantata No. 206, 'Schleicht, spielende Wellen,' BWV 206 (BC G23, 26): 11. Chorus: Die himmlische Vorsicht der ewigen Güte

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a voice teacher and early music fan, April 9, 2006

By 

George Peabody "Ariel" (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Secular Cantatas (Audio CD)

A DIFFERENT KIND OF BACH, BUT I'LL TAKE IT!!!During Johann Sebastion Bach's sojourn in Leipzig, he was asked to take over the direction of th "Schottisches Collegium musicum", a competent ensemble recruited from students and a few professional musicians who met to make music once a week on Friday evenings and throughout the summer. It was this group that performed these two secular cantatas.

The cantata "Schleicht, spielende Wellen" (Glide, playful waves) was composed for the birthday of the Elector Friedrich Augustus III of Poland. The cantata text, written by an author unknown to us, refers to political events of the year 1734.

In the framework of a typical Baroque laudatory discourse, four rivers outdo one another in paying homage to the above named Elector, the "most benevolent Augustus", and each river claims him as their own. The "dispute" is settled peacefully and in a final chorus with the character of a gigue Bach brings the four rivers together in a common blessing for the Elector.

Bach endowed this with a suitably festive instrumentation with trumpets, timpani, flutes, strings and continuo. The opening chorus is full of dynamic contrast and the final chorus is made brilliant by the sound of the trumpets.

The cantata "Auf, schmetternde Tone der muntern Trompeten" (Up lively trumpets) was performed for the name-day of the Elector of Saxony. The 'divine right' of the "sovereign" is combined with cares about the well-being of the subjects entrusted to him. The recitatives and arias of the cantata "Up, lively trumpets, blaring sounds" praise in this sense not only the virtues of the monarch but also the happiness of his people which they owe chiefly to him. (I sure would like to meet this guy!)

To save himself work, Bach made use of the parody technique in this cantata. Pieces which had served a limited purpose, forgotten as quickly as the event for which they were originally written, were thus made to serve a new purpose.

The performance of the personnel on this recording is PERFECTION! But then, that's what one expects from Frieder Bernius. His Kammerchor Stuttgart sing with enthusiam, accuracy, buoyancy, absolute lovely tone quality and accurate balance between the parts. AND, in addition, his choice of soloists is first-class all the way. They are: Ruth Ziesak, soprano; Michael Chance, alto (and how glorious are his arias rendered!); Christoph Pregardien, tenor; and one of my personal favorite basses Peter Kooy. The Concerto Koln accomapanies skillfully and with inspiration.

Although I personally prefer Bach's Sacred Cantatas I find myself playing this recording frequently. It's a HALLELUIA listening experience!

5.0 out of 5 stars A revelation, at least for me., December 23, 2011

By 

Simon - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secular Cantatas (Audio CD)

I wonder why i never heard about Frieder Bernius, the conductor here,
because this is a most convincing interpretation with a superb natural tempo and spirit, and with a great solists, choir and orchestra.

From a little search in Amazon i find that this cd is his only recording
of Bach's cantatas.
What a pity!

A great performance of a fine works (especially cantata 207a),
in a very good recording.

[By the way, as usuall with Bach, the texts of his cantatas are not his forte,
but here they are even worser - a bunch of slavish flattery. Bah!]