P-9

Bach Cantatas Vol. 9: Lund / Leipzig
For the 17^th Sunday after Trinity
For the 18^th Sunday after Trinity

CD-1: Cantatas BWV 148 [16:13], BWV 114 [24:12], BWV 47 [21:47]; Motet BWV 226 [7:47]
CD-2: Cantatas BWV 96 [19:22], BWV 169 [23:39], BWV 116 [15:29]; Chorale Vor deinen Thron tret ich Hiermit, BWV 668 [9:29]

John Eliot Gardiner

Monteverdi Choir / English Baroque Soloists

CD-1: Soprano: Katharine Fuge; Altos: Frances Bourne [BWV 148], Charles Humphries [BWV 114]; Counter tenor: Robin Tyson [BWV 47]; Tenor: Mark Padmore; Bass: Stephan Loges
CD-2 Soprano: Katharine Fuge; Contralto: Nathalie Stutzmann; Tenor: Christoph Genz; Bass: Gotthold Schwarz

Soli Deo Gloria 159

CD-1: Oct 14, 2000
CD-2: Oct 22, 2000

2-CD / TT: 138:41

Live recordings from the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage:
CD-1: Allhelgonakyrkan, Lund, Sweden.
CD-2: Thomaskirche, Leipzig, Germany.
See: John Eliot Gardiner - Bach Cantata Pilgrimage - Vol. 9
Buy this album at:
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Gardiner's New Release
Gardiner Vol. 9 (latest release)

David D. Jones wrote (September 14, 2009):
YES!!!!!! I have been enjoying and analyzing my Gardiner Bach Cantata CD for the past several days now. I made sure to preorder it as soon as it was available from HMV. I have yet to be disappointed by his interpretations. In particular, I enjoyed his dazzling accounts of BWV 96 in which the high sopranino recorder glittered and sparkled like the "Morgensterne" it represented; Rachel Beckett's control and virtuosity kept the intstrument's highest tones from ever sounding shrill; they remained round and full even up into the stratosphere.It is interesting to read Gardiner's account of the nasty, "more authentic than thou" attitude at the Thomaskirche (perhaps harking back to the utter lack of understanding and appreciation Bach himself received during his tenure there?) that kept Miss Beckett out of the pulpit and her obbligato from achieving an effect that Gardiner wanted Katharine Fuge's limpid, silvery interpretation of the second movement in BWV 47 is to be cherished; she is matched nuance for nuance by the argent glow of the solo violin. "Ah Dear Christians, Be Comforted" was magnificent in its clarity of polyphonic line and calibration of tempo; the second movement was rich with virtuosic, yet pensive flute work. Nathalie Stutzmann's method of vocal production is to be commended; she attacks tones first without vibrato and then quickly allows the vibrato to bloom in the tones, in so doing sounding more like one of Bach's mature boy altos than many a countertenor. Gardiner has done it again!!!!

Ed Myskowski wrote (September 15, 2009):
David D. Jones wrote:
< It is interesting to read Gardiner's account of the nasty, "more authentic than thou" attitude at the Thomaskirche (perhaps harking back to the utter lack of understanding and appreciation Bach himself received during his tenure there?) that kept Miss Beckett out of the pulpit and her obbligato from achieving an effect that Gardiner wanted Katharine Fuge's limpid, silvery interpretation of the second movement in BWV 47 is to be cherished; she is matched nuance for nuance by the argent glow of the solo violin. "Ah Dear Christians, Be Comforted" >
I am very happy indeed to receive the latest Gardiner Pilgimage CD by trans-Atlantic post (across the pond?) on the very same day that Davids BCML eMail arrived.

I certainly share the general enthusiasm for the series, otherwise I would not have bothered to subscribe, close to two years ago. At that time, back issues were available at subscription price, and it was quite conveneient to *catch up*. The service is superb. In the case of the current release there was a minor delay in shipping which was carefully explained by clear communication, followed shortly by arrival of the CD!

I am comforted.

DJ:
< Nathalie Stutzmann's method of vocal production is to be commended; she attacks tones first without vibrato and then quickly allows the vibrato to bloom in the tones, in so doing sounding more like one of Bach's mature boy altos than many a countertenor. >
EM:
I could not agree more that the alto performances by Ms. Stutzmann are among the many reasons to seek out the Gardiner Pilgrimage releases. In the spirit of accuracy, I do find it a bit of a stretch to compare her technique to <one of Bachs mature boy altos>.

Unless David is much older than I think he is?

The sequencing of the Gardiner releases is a puzzlement that defies logic of any sort. I posted my interpretation a few weeks back, in the hope that shining a bit of light into the obscurity might encourage a few more subscriptions. One can only hope.

A message from Rahsaan Roland Kirk, buried very deep into his CD <The Case of the 3 Sided Dream in Audio Color>:

[paraphrase] <The opportunity for peace has passed us by. It is gone. Enjoy your serenity whenever possible, that is all we have left.

He of course meant listen to music, and buy CDs, especially those by Rahsaan RK.

Ed Myskowski wrote (September 15, 2009):
Those with a mystical bent might interpret the fact that my previous post was sent twice, AND, that it was signed twice, to have some numerologic significance (2x2=4!)

David Jones wrote (September 16, 2009):
[To Ed Myskowski] I suppose in the spirit of accuracy I should have chosen different words/phrasing....we don't know *what* Bach's mature boy-altos would have sounded like.....but there is a purity and touch of silver to her dark alto that I think is completely in line with Bach's intentions.

Ed Myskowski wrote (September 16, 2009):
David D. Jones wrote:
< I suppose in the spirit of accuracy I should have chosen different words/phrasing....we don't know *what* Bach's mature boy-altos would have sounded like.....but there is a purity and touch of silver to her dark alto that I think is completely in line with Bach's intentions. >
And I should have taken a moment and a few extra words to emphasize the very important points of agreement between David and myself:

(1) The ongoing Gardiner Pilgrimage releases are highly recommended, both for the immediate enjoyment of the music, and as a record of a project which is likely to grow to legendary proportions, if it has not done so already. Incidentally, I saw a remark by a critic somewhere along the line, referring to Gardiners *hubris*, in undertaking the Pilgrimage. Beckmesser-like, I would now call that critic.

(2) The rich alto performances by Nathalie Stutzmann are among the very many outstanding details of this series.

Given the long history of disputatious discussion re *Bachs intentions* on BCML, I do continue to suggest that this language is best used carefully, and with support from scores and/or other documents. It is one thing to say, for example, <I feel Bach when I hear this>, quite another to then make the extension <Therefore, this is what Bach intended>.

To reiterate, this a minor point within our much larger shared enthusiasm for the Gardiner Pilgrimage recordings.

Stephen Benson wrote (September 16, 2009):
Ed Myskowski wrote:
< To reiterate, this a minor point within our much larger shared enthusiasm for the Gardiner Pilgrimage recordings. >
I want to express my agreement with the appreciative comments made with respect to Vol. 9. It has provided welcome relief to the Joe Wilson-Serena Williams-Kanye West insanities dominatingthe news these days. I turn off the TV, play these discs, and the joy that they bring makes all that ugly stuff just disappear. All becomes right with the world!

John Eliot Gardiner: Short Biography Ensembles: Monteverdi Choir | English Baroque Soloists
Bach Discography: Recordings of Vocal Works: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Videos | Recordings of Instrumental Works
Table of recordings by BWV Number
General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Newsletters
Discussions of Cantatas: Cantatas BWV 106, 118b, 198 | Cantatas BWV 140, 147 | Cantatas BWV 11, 37, 43, 128 | Cantatas BWV 6, 66 | Cantatas BWV 72, 73, 111, 156 | Cantatas BWV 82, 83, 125, 200
Discussions of Bach Cantata Pilgrimage: BCP - Vols 1&8 | BCP - Vol. 6 | BCP - Vol. 9 | BCP - Vol. 13 | BCP - Vol. 14 | BCP - Vol. 15 | BCP - Vol. 21 | BCP - Vol. 22 | BCP - Vol. 23 | BCP - Vol. 24 | BCP - Vol. 26 | Bach Cantata Pilgrimage DVD | DVD John Eliot Gardiner in Rehearsal
Discussions of Other Vocal Works: BWV 232 - J.E. Gardiner | BWV 244 - J.E. Gardiner | BWV 245 - J.E. Gardiner | BWV 248 - J.E. Gardiner | BWV 1127 - J.E. Gardiner
Bach Festivals and Cantata Series: Bach Cantata Pilgrimage
Books: Bach: Music in the Castle of Heaven