Bach: Cantatas for Ascension Day

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
John Eliot Gardiner's original Millennium Bach Cantata Pilgrimage plan involved weekly Deutsche Grammophon recordings of all the concerts, but the plan did not prove practical. This CD of Bach's Ascension Day cantatas dates from 1993 and 1999. The pride of the disc is BWV 11: The opening chorus is an adrenaline fix of blazing, suitably ascending motifs led by studio-immaculate baroque trumpets. Thereafter, the mood changes. The alto aria "Ach bleibe" (actually the great Agnus Dei from the Mass in B Minor) is, in countertenor Michael Chance's silky throat (1993 model), a poignant, drooping song of sorrow for the departed Lord. Chance's 1993 fellow soloists are Nancy Argenta, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, and Stephen Varcoe. They sing BWV 43 (Gott fähret auf) and BWV37 (Wer da gläubet) with clear enjoyment. Argenta also sings in the 1999 session for BWV 128, Auf Christi Himmelfahrt with colleagues Robin Blaze, Stefan Genz, and Reinhard Hagen. The latter has a low F sharp that is truly bearded. --Rick Jones

Tracks:

Gott fahret auf mit Jauchzen BWV 43: 1. Chorus: Gott fahret auf mit Jauchzen
Gott fahret auf mit Jauchzen BWV 43: 2. Recitative (tenor): Es willder Hochste sich ein Siegsgeprang bereiten
Gott fahret auf mit Jauchzen BWV 43: 3. Aria (Tenor): Ja tausend mal tasened beleiten den Wgen
Gott fahret auf mit Jauchzen BWV 43: 4. Recitative (Soprano): Und der Herr, nachdem er mit ihnen geredet hatte
Gott fahret auf mit Jauchzen BWV 43: 5. Aria (soprano): Mein Jesus hat nunmehr das heilandwerk vollendet <
Gott fahret auf mit Jauchzen BWV 43: 6. Recitative (Bass): Es kommt der Helden Held
Gott fahret auf mit Jauchzen BWV 43: 7. Aria (Bass): Er ists, der ganz allein die Kelter hat getreten
Gott fahret auf mit Jauchzen BWV 43: 8. Recitative (Countertenor): Der Vater hat ihm ja ein ewig Reich bestimmet
Gott fahret auf mit Jauchzen BWV 43: 9. Aria (Countertener): Ich sehe schon im Geist
Gott fahret auf mit Jauchzen BWV 43: 10. Recitative (soprano) Er will mir neben sich die Wohnung zubereiten
Gott fahret auf mit Jauchzen BWV 43: 11. Chorale: Du Lebensfurst, Herr Jesu Christ
Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein BWV 128: 1. Chorus: Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein
Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein BWV 128: 2. Recitative (Tenor): Ich bin bereit, komm, hole, mich!
Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein BWV 128: 3. Aria & Recitative (bass): Auf, auf, mit hellem Schall
Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein BWV 128: 4. Aria (Countertenor, Tenor): Sein Allmacht zu ergrunden
Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein BWV 128: 5. Chorale: Alsdann so wirst du mich zu deiner Rechten stellen
Wer da glaubet und getauft wird BWV 37: 1. Chorus: Wer da glaubet und getaugt wird
Wer da glaubet und getauft wird BWV 37: 2. Aria (Tenor): Der Glaube ist das Pfand der Liebe
Wer da glaubet und getauft wird BWV 37: 3. Chorale (Soprano, Countertenor): Herr Gott Vater, mein starker Held!
Wer da glaubet und getauft wird BWV 37: 4. Recitative (bass): Ihr Sterblichen, verlanget ihr
Wer da glaubet und getauft wird BWV 37: 5. Aria (Bass): Der Glaube schafft der Seele Flugel
Wer da glaubet und getauft wird BWV 37: 6. Chorale: Den Glauben mir verleihe an dein' Shn Jesum Christ
Lobet Gott In seinen Reichen BWV 11: 1. Chorus: Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen
Lobet Gott In seinen Reichen BWV 11: 2. Recitative (Tenor Evangelist):Der Herr Jesus hubsein Hande auf
Lobet Gott In seinen Reichen BWV 11: 3. Recitative (Bass): Ach, Jesu, ist dein Abschied schon so nah?
Lobet Gott In seinen Reichen BWV 11: 4. Aria (counterrenor): Achj, blleibe doch, mein liebstes Leben
Lobet Gott In seinen Reichen BWV 11: 5. Recitative (Tenor Evangelist): Uns ward aufgehoben zusehends
Lobet Gott In seinen Reichen BWV 11: 6. Chorale: Nun lieget alles unter dir
Lobet Gott In seinen Reichen BWV 11: 7a. Recitative (Tenor Evangelist, Bass): Und da sie ihm nachsahen
Lobet Gott In seinen Reichen BWV 11: 7b. Recitative(Countertenor): Ach ja! so komme bald zuruck
Lobet Gott In seinen Reichen BWV 11: 7c. Recitative (Tenor Evangelist): Sie aber beteten ihn an
Lobet Gott In seinen Reichen BWV 11: 8, Aria (Soprano): Jesu, deine Gnadenblicke
Lobet Gott In seinen Reichen BWV 11: 9. Chorale: Wenn soll es doch geschehen

Amazon.com

John Eliot Gardiner's original Millennium Bach Cantata Pilgrimage plan involved weekly Deutsche Grammophon recordings of all the concerts, but the plan did not prove practical. This CD of Bach's Ascension Day cantatas dates from 1993 and 1999. The pride of the disc is BWV 11: The opening chorus is an adrenaline fix of blazing, suitably ascending motifs led by studio-immaculate baroque trumpets. Thereafter, the mood changes. The alto aria "Ach bleibe" (actually the great Agnus Dei from the Mass in B Minor) is, in countertenor Michael Chance's silky throat (1993 model), a poignant, drooping song of sorrow for the departed Lord. Chance's 1993 fellow soloists are Nancy Argenta, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, and Stephen Varcoe. They sing BWV 43 (Gott fähret auf) and BWV37 (Wer da gläubet) with clear enjoyment. Argenta also sings in the 1999 session for BWV 128, Auf Christi Himmelfahrt with colleagues Robin Blaze, Stefan Genz, and Reinhard Hagen. The latter has a low F sharp that is truly bearded. --Rick Jones

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant!.......2007-01-30

Absolutely, stunningly, mind-blowingly brilliant. If you want a great cantata record, this is IT, even more so than the Gardiner pairing of The Big Two BWV140 and 147. Like the 140/147 pairing, these were recorded before the Cantata Pilgrimage of 2000, so are not the live recordings (hopefully soon to appear on Gardiner's SDG label). BWV 11 is especially marvellous, and worth having because it may not appear in the SDG set (some cantata editions omit BWV 11 because they consider it a separate "oratorio", rather than a cantata). However, Gardiner is including BWV 190, also omitted by many cantata editions because the first two movements are reconstructions, so I'm hopeful that BWV 11 will appear in SDG form. If not, this one is great. The other cantatas are also wonderful. Arise, go forth and buy, and enjoy the sublime genius of one of the world's great composers.

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-03-09

Bach wrote his most sublime music for the Church. His first Ascension Day in Leipzig was Thursday May 1724,for which he wrote "Wer da glaubit und getauft wird"BWV37,in which he focuses not on the Ascension story but on the words of Jesus: He who believes and is baptized shall be saved. This cantata opens with a Chorus followed by a Tenor Aria; followed by a beautifully sung chorale featuring Soprano and Countertenor; then a Bass recitative and aria and ending with a Chorale.
BWV128 "Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein"(On Christ's Ascension Alone) focuses on the eternal implications of Jesus' Ascension for the baptized believer. The sections are as follows: Opening Chorus-Tenor recitatime-Bass aria and recitative-an exciting duet featuring countertenor and tenor-ending with a lovely chorale.
In the cantata 'Gott Fahret auf mit Jauchzen' (God has gone up with a shout) Bach set his two-part text based on Psalm 47:5-6 and Mark 16:19. This was partly a token of gratitude to his earthly monarch the King and Elector ,Augustus II; this is a joyful setting of praises to the King of Kings. This is actually my favorite of all four because of the variety of vocal conributions which are: Chorus-Tenor recitative and Aria-soprano recitative and aria -bass recitative and aria- countertenor recitative and aria followed by the closing chorale.
In the Ascension Oratorio "Lobet Gott in seinem Reichen" (Praise God in his His riches),the tenor Evangelist sings a compilation of passages from Luke 24:50-2,Acts 1:9-12 and Mark 16:19, which provides a story line joining the remaining movements, three of which are parodied from pre-existent material.
Four cantatas for Ascension Day, each a cameo of Bach's life-experience and faith-from the optimism of the early Leipzig years to the brokeness of a decade later; from a joyful acclamation that the baptized believer will be saved, to a yearning for the appearance of the Ascended One This disc is truly the epitome of Gardiner's Bach series and is a musical treasure. As with all of Gardiner's efforts the performance is excellent and the soloists are superb. Nancy Argento,soprano-Michael Chance & Robin Blaze (countertenors)-Anthony rolfe Johnson (tenor)-Stephen Varcoe and Reinhard Hagen (bass).

Endless Ascension.......2000-07-14

This disk is the pentiultimate release in John Eliot Gardiner's glorious return to the Bach Cantatas. Gardiner has embarked on a visionary "Bach Cantata Pilgrimage" in which he shall conduct every sacred cantata, every Sunday in various churches throughout Europe. 12 disks in all are scheduled for release, of which this disk, to date, is the crown. For those who are avid Cantata collectors, you will remember Gardiner's early-90's milestones -- with the same soloists. No soprano is more radiant in Bach than Argenta, the cool opulence of Chance's counter-tenor is the exact center of the boy/male alto/contralto controversy, and A. Rolfe-Johnson and Varcoe are simply the most sensitive while still virile voices today. Simply thrilling. (Special note: Robin Blaze, countertenor, does a great job on his solos and we expect great things from him). Other highlights are, as always, the flawless choral and (period-instrument) orchestral playing at wind-swept tempi, and we are particularly grateful for the length of the disk (4 cantatas, nearly 80 minutes of music).

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