Description

J.S. Bach: 6 Favourite Cantatas (Kantaten BWV 147, 80, 140, 8, 51 & 78) - The Bach Ensemble, Joshua Rifkin / Double Decca / L'Oiseau-Lyre 2x Audio CD 1997 / 455 706-2

UPC 028945570624

Label: L'Oiseau-Lyre – 455 706-2
Series: Double Decca
Format: 2 x CD, Compilation
Country: Europe
Released: 1997
Genre: Classical
Style: Baroque

Overview

This collection of six favorite cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach presents a stunning overview of the composer’s sacred music, masterfully performed by The Bach Ensemble and directed by Joshua Rifkin. As one of the greatest Baroque composers, Bach’s cantatas are celebrated for their profound emotional range, from the joyous and triumphant to the introspective and solemn. These six cantatas—BWV 147, 80, 140, 8, 51, and 78—demonstrate his unparalleled ability to craft complex yet accessible music, blending deep theological themes with stunning musical architecture.

With highlights such as BWV 147’s "Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring" and BWV 80’s "Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott," this double album is both a meditative spiritual journey and a celebration of Bach’s genius.

Interesting Facts

Joshua Rifkin is noted for his scholarly approach to Bach, advocating for one-voice-per-part performance in cantatas, which was a controversial yet influential interpretation in the early music community.
"Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben" (BWV 147) contains the famous "Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring," one of the most frequently performed and recorded pieces of classical music.
"Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott" (BWV 80) is a powerful choral setting of Martin Luther’s famous hymn and is often associated with Reformation Day.
The Bach Ensemble has been a leading group in the historically informed performance movement, using period instruments and techniques to capture the authenticity of Baroque music.
This album is part of the prestigious Double Decca series under the L’Oiseau-Lyre label, renowned for high-quality classical music recordings.