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Background:

• Composed over 200 surviving sacred cantatas designed for the Lutheran liturgical calendar. These multi-movement works typically combine chorus, vocal soloists, and orchestra, intertwining Biblical texts, poetry, and traditional chorales to reflect the Gospel reading of each specific Sunday or feast day.
• Bach’s earliest cantatas date from 1707, the year he moved to Muhlhausen.
• The BWV number is the Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis assignation by Wolfgang Schmieder for each cantata.
• The most famous sacred cantatas are BWV 1, 21, 51, 61, 80, 82, 105, 106, 140, 147.

Recordings:

• Ich habe genug, Cantatas BWV 82, 32 & 106.
  Joanne Lunn, Katie Bray, Hugo Hymas, Robert Davies, Matthew Brook.
  Dunedin Consort.
  John Butt.
  Linn.
  BBC Music Magazine (2021): Choral & Song Choice.
  The Guardian Classical Albums of the Year (2021).
  BBC Music Magazine Awards (2022): Winner Choral.

• Wide rstehe doch der Sunde, Ich habe gehug, Verghugte Ruh.
  Iestyn Davies (countertenor).
  Arcangelo.
  Jonathan Cohen.
  Hyperion.
  Gramophone Magazine (2017): Editor’s Choice.
  Gramophone Awards (2017): Winner Baroque Vocal.
  The Times Records of the Year (2017).

• Bach Cantatas (Recorded Live at the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage 2000). 56 CDs.
  The Monteverdi Choir & The English Baroque Soloists.
  Sir Eliot Gardiner.
  SDG.
  Presto Recommended Recordings:
  Volume 1
  Gramophone Magazine (2005): Disc of the Month.
  Gramophone Awards (2005): Recordings of the Year.
  Gramophone Awards (2005): Winner Baroque Vocal.
  Volume 3
  Gramophone Magazine (2008): Disc of the Month.
  Volume 10
  Gramophone Magazine (2006): Disc of the Month.
  Volume 15
  Gramophone Awards (2007): Finalist Baroque Vocal.
  Volume 18
  Gramophone Magazine (2010): Editor’s Choice.
  Volume 27
  BBC Music Magazine Awards (2009): Choral Winner.
  Volume 28
  Presto Recording of the Week (2013).
  Radio 3 Building a Library (2019): Recommended Recording.
  Radio 3 Building a Library (2009): First Choice.
  Radio 3 Building a Library (2010): First Choice,

• Bach Arrangements (Choral Preludes).
  Angela Hewitt (piano).
  Hyperion.

• Ascension Cantatas (BWV 11, 43, 128, 37).
  Sandrine Piau, Johannette Zomer, Sibylla Rubens (sopranos), Bogna Bartosz, Bernhard Landauer (altos), James Gilchrist, Christoph Prégardien, Jörg Dürmüller (tenors) & Klaus Mertens (bass).
  Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir.
  Ton Koopman.
  Challenge Classics.
  Radio 3 Building a Library (2019): Recommended.

• Cantatas Vol. 22.
  Sandrine Piau, Johannette Zomer (soprano), Bogna Bartosz, Nathalie Stutzman (alto), James Gilchrist, Christoph Prégardien, Jörg Dürmüller (tenor) & Klaus Mertens (bass).
  The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir.
  Ton Koopman.
  Challenge Classics.
  BBC Music Magazine Awards (2008): Choral Winner.

• A Life in Music Vol. 1. Early Cantatas, Arnstadt & Muhlhausen (1703 – 1708).
  Paul Agnew (tenor), Miriam Allan (soprano), Thomas Hobbs (tenor), Edward Grint, Maarten Engeltjes, Nicolas Kuntzelmann.
  Les Arts Florissants.
  Benjamin Alard (early keyboard)
  Paul Agnew.
  Harmonia Mundi.
  Presto Recording of the Week (2024).
  Sunday Times (2024): 20 Best Classical Albums.
  International Classical Music Awards (2025): Nominated Baroque Vocal.

• A Life in Music Vol. 2. The Weimar Years (1708 – 1717).
  Les Arts Florissants.
  Benjamin Alard (early keyboard)
  Paul Agnew.
  Harmonia Mundi.

• A Life in Music Vol. 3. Kothen (1717 - 1723).
  Les Arts Florissants.
  Benjamin Alard (harpsichord)
  Paul Agnew.
  Harmonia Mundi.

• Soli Deo Gloria.
  Maria Keohane, Carlos Mena, Julian Pregardien, Mathias Vieweg, Bernard Foccroulle.
  Collegium Vocale Gent.
  Ricercar Consort.
  Philippe Pierlot.
  Mirare.
  Radio 3 Record Review (2021): Record of the Week.

• Cantatas, Sundays After Trinity Vol. 1.
  Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (bass), Peter Schreier (tenor), Edith Mathis (soprano), Julia Hamari (contralto), Ernst Haefliger (tenor), Kieth Engen (bass), Hertha Töpper (contralto), Fritz Ruf (viola), Ursula Buckel (soprano), John van Kesteren (tenor), Maria Stader (soprano).
  Münchener Bach-Chor.
  Münchener Bach-Orchester.
  Karl Richter.
  DG Archiv.

• Cantatas, Sundays After Trinity Vol. 2.
  Peter Schreier (tenor), Edith Mathis (soprano), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (bass, baritone), Trudeliese Schmidt (contralto), Ernst Haefliger (tenor), Hertha Töpper (contralto), Kieth Engen (bass), Theo Adam (bass), Ursula Buckel (soprano).
  Münchener Bach-Chor.
  Münchener Bach-Orchester.
  Karl Richter.
  DG Archiv.

• Cantatas, Ascension Day, Whitsun, Trinity.
  Anna Reynolds (contralto), Edith Mathis (soprano), Peter Schreier (tenor), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (bass), Kurt Moll (bass), Ernst Haefliger (tenor), John van Kesteren (tenor), Hertha Töpper (contralto), Kieth Engen (bass), Ursula Buckel (soprano).
  Münchener Bach-Chor.
  Münchener Bach-Orchester.
  Karl Richter.
  DG Archiv.

• Cantatas, Advent and Christmas.
  Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (bass, baritone), Edith Mathis (soprano), Peter Schreier (tenor), Anna Reynolds (contralto), Theo Adam (bass), Hertha Töpper (contralto), Sheila Armstrong (soprano), Ernst Haefliger (tenor), Lotte Schädle (soprano).
  Münchener Bach-Chor.
  Münchener Bach-Orchester.
  Karl Richter.
  DG Archiv.

• Cantatas, Easter.
  Edith Mathis (soprano), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (bass), baritone), Peter Schreier (tenor), Anna Reynolds (contralto), Theo Adam (bass), Ernst Haefliger (tenor), Hertha Töpper (mezzo-soprano).
  Münchener Bach-Chor.
  Münchener Bach-Orchester.
  Karl Richter.
  DG Archiv.

• A Choral Year with Bach.
  Bach Collegium Japan.
  Masaaki Suzuki.
  BIS.

• Cantatas. 55 CDs.
  Bach Collegium Japan.
  Masaaki Suzuki.
  BIS.
  Volume 2
  Radio 3 Building a Library (2001): Choral Recommendation.
  Volume 30
  Penguin Guide (2006): Rosette.
  Volume 33
  BBC Music Magazine (2007): Disc of the Month.
  Volume 34
  Penguin Guide (2007): Rosette.
  Volume 46
  Gramophone Magazine (2010): Editor’s Choice.
  Volume 47
  BBC Music Magazine (2011): Choral & Song Choice.
  Volume 48
  BBC Music Magazine (2011): Choral & Song Choice.
  Volume 53
  Gramophone Magazine (2013): Editor’s Choice
  Volume 54
  BBC Music Magazine (2013): Choral & Song Choice.
  Volume 55
  Gramophone Magazine (2013): Editor’s Choice.
  Presto Recording of the Week (2013).

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