J.S. Bach: Cantates BWV 2, 20 & 176

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The three cantatas recorded here have in common their composition for or around Trinity Sunday, which is as good an excuse as any for lumping them together. Bach's instrumentation and format, however, are different for each work, and the overall effect is varied and interesting. BWV 2, asking God to have pity on us, features some severe trombone backing amid a certain austerity, an alto aria with solo viola, and a dance-like aria for bass exhorting Christians to be patient. The almost-half-hour-long BWV 20 is grander in attitude and scale, dealing as it does with "Eternity, thou thunderous word," and one bass aria with oboe solo is nicely expressive while another, with trumpets ("Awake, awake, lost sheep") is rousing. "The hearts of all men are obstinate and fearful," the opening chorus of BWV 176 tells us in a quick-tempo fugue which sounds downright jolly. All three are beautifully performed and recorded; Herreweghe may not milk the drama out of the more "dreadful" moments, but with choral singing and instrumental playing of this caliber, it doesn't matter. A fine disc. --Robert Levine

Tracks:

Ach Gott, Vom Himmel Sieh Darein
Sie Lehren Eitel Falsche List
Tilg, O Gott, Die Lehren
Die Armen Sind Verstort
Durchs Feuer Wird Das Silber Rein
Das Wollst Du, Gott, Bewahren Rein
O Ewigkeit, Du Donnerwort
Kein Ungluck Ist In Aller Welt Zu Finden
Ewigkeit, Du Machst Mir Bange
Gesetzt Es Dau'rte Der Verdammten Qual
Gott Ist Gerecht In Seinen Werken
O Mensch, Errette Deine Seele
Solang Ein Gott Im Himmel Lebt
Wacht Auf, Wacht Auf, Verlornen Schafe
Verlass, O Mensch, Die Wollust Dieser Welt
O Menschenkind
O Ewigkeit, Du Donnerwort
Es Ist Ein Trotzig Und Verzagt Ding
Ich Meine, Recht Verzagt
Dein Sonst Hell Beliebter Schein
So Wundre Dich, O Meister, Nicht
Ermuntert Euch
Auf Dass Wir Also Allzugleich

Amazon.com

The three cantatas recorded here have in common their composition for or around Trinity Sunday, which is as good an excuse as any for lumping them together. Bach's instrumentation and format, however, are different for each work, and the overall effect is varied and interesting. BWV 2, asking God to have pity on us, features some severe trombone backing amid a certain austerity, an alto aria with solo viola, and a dance-like aria for bass exhorting Christians to be patient. The almost-half-hour-long BWV 20 is grander in attitude and scale, dealing as it does with "Eternity, thou thunderous word," and one bass aria with oboe solo is nicely expressive while another, with trumpets ("Awake, awake, lost sheep") is rousing. "The hearts of all men are obstinate and fearful," the opening chorus of BWV 176 tells us in a quick-tempo fugue which sounds downright jolly. All three are beautifully performed and recorded; Herreweghe may not milk the drama out of the more "dreadful" moments, but with choral singing and instrumental playing of this caliber, it doesn't matter. A fine disc. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Simply beautiful and perfect!!.......2005-05-22

Carefully performed, elegant, peaceful ... all performers form a truly machine, all a team.

Beautyful again.......2004-04-04

This is another record in Herreweghe's serie of Bach's cantatas. And again it is nicer than all other recordings of this piece. In the first cantata (BWV 2 "Ach Gott vom Himmel sieh darein") I like to recommand you the first alto aria with solo violin. From the second one (BWV 20 "O Ewigkeit du Donnerwort") the bass aria (Peter Kooy) with two oboes is of striking beauty. From the third and last cantata the opening chorus (BWV 176 "Es ist ein trotzig und versagt ding um alles menschen herze")tells you what Jeremiah already said about men's heart, in a way you will never forget. For the first time Herreweghe chose Jan Kobow as a tenor. Although a little bit less sharp than Mark Padmore (my favorite voice), he sings his aria's (especially: "Durch feuer werd das Silber rein" from BWV 2) very nice. After listening to this cd I only long for the next recording in Herreweghe's serie.

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