Complete Cantatas Set?

[Charles Z.]

Can anyone please recommend a good set of the complete Bach cantatas,
and also where to order from also.(I live in the U.S.). A quick web
search has turned up no such set on Arkiv, and only one such set on
Amazon, by a Dutch group I've never heard of: Pieter Jan Leusink,
Holland Boys Choir, Netherlands Bach Collegium; and there are no
listening samples. Has anyone heard this organization? Are they good?
Any other possibilities? I do not want to collect them piecemeal if I
can avoid it ...Thanks.

[j***@yahoo.com]

I have the Leusink set and consider it quite good, especially for the
price.

Joel Warren Lidz, Ph.D.
Boston
www.jwlidz.us

Post by Charles Z.
Can anyone please recommend a good set of the complete Bach cantatas,
and also where to order from also.(I live in the U.S.). A quick web
search has turned up no such set on Arkiv, and only one such set on
Amazon, by a Dutch group I've never heard of: Pieter Jan Leusink,
Holland Boys Choir, Netherlands Bach Collegium; and there are no
listening samples. Has anyone heard this organization? Are they good?
Any other possibilities? I do not want to collect them piecemeal if I
can avoid it ...Thanks.

[Charles Z.]

thank you

[Robert Weemeyer]

Post by Charles Z.
Can anyone please recommend a good set of the complete Bach cantatas,
and also where to order from also. (I live in the U.S.)

If you are interested not only in the cantatas, but in all of Bach's music,
I recommend "The Complete Works of Johann Sebastian Bach" on 172 CDs by
Helmuth Rilling, "the world's leading expert on the music of Johann
Sebastian Bach" <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmuth_Rilling>. See
<https://ssl.haenssler.de/classic.uk/default.asp?con=../classic.uk/con_dynpage.asp?Seite=137>
for information about this collection (in English). The whole collection
costs 1349 EUR, but single CDs are also available. For the whole collection
shipped from the state of New York at 1279.99 $, see
<http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004WJLX/002-8397815-2784012?v=glance&n=5174>.

Yours,
Robert

[Raveem Tahir]

It is a good set. I managed to pick it up at a bargain price of ~£250
from a German seller on eBay. Beware that there are two versions: one is
the original with all the original booklets. There has been a recent
reprint which has all the music, but none of the documentation. The
recent reprint goes for just over £100 I think.

Post by Robert Weemeyer

Post by Charles Z.
Can anyone please recommend a good set of the complete Bach cantatas,
and also where to order from also. (I live in the U.S.)

If you are interested not only in the cantatas, but in all of Bach's music,
I recommend "The Complete Works of Johann Sebastian Bach" on 172 CDs by
Helmuth Rilling, "the world's leading expert on the music of Johann
Sebastian Bach" <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmuth_Rilling>. See
<https://ssl.haenssler.de/classic.uk/default.asp?con=../classic.uk/con_dynpage.asp?Seite=137>
for information about this collection (in English). The whole collection
costs 1349 EUR, but single CDs are also available. For the whole collection
shipped from the state of New York at 1279.99 $, see
<http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004WJLX/002-8397815-2784012?v=glance&n=5174>.
Yours,
Robert

[Charles Z.]

Post by Robert Weemeyer

Post by Charles Z.
Can anyone please recommend a good set of the complete Bach cantatas,
and also where to order from also. (I live in the U.S.)

If you are interested not only in the cantatas, but in all of Bach's music,
I recommend "The Complete Works of Johann Sebastian Bach" on 172 CDs by
Helmuth Rilling, "the world's leading expert on the music of Johann
Sebastian Bach" <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmuth_Rilling>. See
<https://ssl.haenssler.de/classic.uk/default.asp?con=../classic.uk/con_dynpage.asp?Seite=137>
for information about this collection (in English). The whole collection
costs 1349 EUR, but single CDs are also available. For the whole collection
shipped from the state of New York at 1279.99 $, see
<http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004WJLX/002-8397815-2784012?v=glance&n=5174>.
Yours,
Robert

Thank you. I've been listening to Bach for almost 50 years. I am unlike
many music lovers in that I do not seek out multiple versions of a
favorite work. Once I have immersed (and I mean IMMERSED) myself in a
work, usually over several months, which is my habit with works I love,
I usually do not ever listen to it intensively or repeatedly again. I
will now listen to the Musical Offering or movements from the B Minor
Mass only very ocasionally, having worn out their impact on me many
years ago. So large swaths of the complete Bach, probably all the
well-known works, would be wasted on me were I to purchase that set. My
quest now is for what I haven't yet heard, among especially the
cantatas I haven't yet encountered, the trio sonatas, the
Orgelbuchlein, etc.( And also I'm doing this same thing with other
composers, so my listening time is quite full in seeking out new works.
Indeed, one lifetime is not near enough to experience the incredible
repertory of great music).

[Sybrand Bakker]

On Tue, 13 Dec 2005 05:32:17 +0100, Robert Weemeyer

Post by Robert Weemeyer
If you are interested not only in the cantatas, but in all of Bach's music,
I recommend "The Complete Works of Johann Sebastian Bach" on 172 CDs by
Helmuth Rilling, "the world's leading expert on the music of Johann
Sebastian Bach"

Helmut Rilling can hardly be considered 'the world's leading expert on
the music of Johann Sebastian Bach', as there doesn't exist one who
excels above all others.
And sadly to say so: his recordings are usually meat nor fish, as he
seeks to find a compromise between a traditional and a HIP
performance, and doesn't succeed at that very well.

Sybrand Bakker

anti-spam maatregel
om te antwoorden verwijder '-verwijderdit' uit mijn e-mail adres

[Scott Belyea]

Post by Sybrand Bakker
On Tue, 13 Dec 2005 05:32:17 +0100, Robert Weemeyer

Post by Robert Weemeyer
If you are interested not only in the cantatas, but in all of Bach's music,
I recommend "The Complete Works of Johann Sebastian Bach" on 172 CDs by
Helmuth Rilling, "the world's leading expert on the music of Johann
Sebastian Bach"

Helmut Rilling can hardly be considered 'the world's leading expert on
the music of Johann Sebastian Bach', as there doesn't exist one who
excels above all others.
And sadly to say so: his recordings are usually meat nor fish, as he
seeks to find a compromise between a traditional and a HIP
performance, and doesn't succeed at that very well.

Well, that's a matter of opinion, of course. I have roughly 1/2 of the
complete Hanssler edition, and to my ears, Rilling succeeds quite well
indeed.

Scott

Post by Sybrand Bakker
Sybrand Bakker
anti-spam maatregel
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[Ioannis]

"Scott Belyea" <***@rogers.com> wrote in message news:sZudnaOaqMv_rQLeRVn-***@rogers.com...
[snip]

Post by Scott Belyea
Well, that's a matter of opinion, of course. I have roughly 1/2 of the
complete Hanssler edition, and to my ears, Rilling succeeds quite well
indeed.

Rilling gave a live performance two years ago, here in Athens, of the St.
Matthew Passion, which I attended. I haven't heard anything else of him, but
of the Passion I can definitely say, the performance was 'small'. Like him
:-)

Post by Scott Belyea
Scott

[Bé Steenbergen]

Brrrrr.....Rilling! Leading expert on the music of Bach? Iám so happy there
are other performers, like Koopman, Leusink,

Bé

Post by Robert Weemeyer

Post by Charles Z.
Can anyone please recommend a good set of the complete Bach cantatas,
and also where to order from also. (I live in the U.S.)

If you are interested not only in the cantatas, but in all of Bach's music,
I recommend "The Complete Works of Johann Sebastian Bach" on 172 CDs by
Helmuth Rilling, "the world's leading expert on the music of Johann
Sebastian Bach" <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmuth_Rilling>. See
<https://ssl.haenssler.de/classic.uk/default.asp?con=../classic.uk/con_dynpage.asp?Seite=137>
for information about this collection (in English). The whole collection
costs 1349 EUR, but single CDs are also available. For the whole collection
shipped from the state of New York at 1279.99 $, see
<http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004WJLX/002-8397815-2784012?v=glance&n=5174>.
Yours,
Robert

[Sybrand Bakker]

On Wed, 14 Dec 2005 12:57:46 +0100, "Bé Steenbergen"

Post by Bé Steenbergen
Brrrrr.....Rilling! Leading expert on the music of Bach? Iám so happy there
are other performers, like Koopman, Leusink,
Bé

Leussink can be safely forgotten. The only thing which is adequate in
his performances is the orchestra.
The performances of Rilling range from dull to boring.

Strange you don't mention Herreweghe and Suzuki.

However, I do think to get the best performance one would need to get
a clone of Koopman and Herreweghe into one person.
Koopman has no affinity with sombre music, Herreweghe with happy
music.

Sybrand Bakker

anti-spam maatregel
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[Ben Crick]

Post by Sybrand Bakker
Strange you don't mention Herreweghe and Suzuki.

Masaaki Suzuki and the /Bach Collegium Japan/ are in process of
recording all the Cantatas of JS Bach. So far I only have the
CD containing BWV 4 Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 150 Nach Dir,
Herr, verlangert mich and BWV 196 Der Herr denkt an uns.
BIS CD-751.

I also have the Suzuki /Weihnachtsoratorium/ on BIS CD-941/942.

All the performers are professing Christians, so they put their
heart and soul into the music and the words. The performance is
Historically Informed (HIP) without being exaggerated to the point
of fatuity.

You'll enjoy it.

Ben

[Bé Steenbergen]

You are wright; Herreweghe and Suzuki are very good, and, don't forget
Gardiner!
But I do like Leussink not only for his orchestra, but also for the
soloïsts, the sopranos.

Bé

Post by Sybrand Bakker
On Wed, 14 Dec 2005 12:57:46 +0100, "Bé Steenbergen"

Post by Bé Steenbergen
Brrrrr.....Rilling! Leading expert on the music of Bach? Iám so happy there
are other performers, like Koopman, Leusink,
Bé

Leussink can be safely forgotten. The only thing which is adequate in
his performances is the orchestra.
The performances of Rilling range from dull to boring.
Strange you don't mention Herreweghe and Suzuki.
However, I do think to get the best performance one would need to get
a clone of Koopman and Herreweghe into one person.
Koopman has no affinity with sombre music, Herreweghe with happy
music.
Sybrand Bakker
anti-spam maatregel
om te antwoorden verwijder '-verwijderdit' uit mijn e-mail adres

[j***@yahoo.com]

Post by Bé Steenbergen
You are wright; Herreweghe and Suzuki are very good, and, don't forget
Gardiner!
But I do like Leussink not only for his orchestra, but also for the
soloïsts, the sopranos.
Bé

Post by Sybrand Bakker
On Wed, 14 Dec 2005 12:57:46 +0100, "Bé Steenbergen"

Post by Bé Steenbergen
Brrrrr.....Rilling! Leading expert on the music of Bach? Iám so happy there
are other performers, like Koopman, Leusink,
Bé

Leussink can be safely forgotten. The only thing which is adequate in
his performances is the orchestra.
The performances of Rilling range from dull to boring.
Strange you don't mention Herreweghe and Suzuki.
However, I do think to get the best performance one would need to get
a clone of Koopman and Herreweghe into one person.
Koopman has no affinity with sombre music, Herreweghe with happy
music.
Sybrand Bakker

I am surprised you like Koopman. He uses a choir of 16 if I recall
correctly. Also, he cuts and pastes to gloss over mistakes.

Generally speaking I like Herreweghe the best. But I do agree that he
does his best with works in the minor keys.

Jimmy Boy

[Thomas Wood]

Post by Bé Steenbergen
You are wright; Herreweghe and Suzuki are very good, and, don't forget
Gardiner!
But I do like Leussink not only for his orchestra, but also for the
soloïsts, the sopranos.

Herreweghe, by all reports, has no intention to record a complete cycle, and
Suzuki's cycle won't be complete for several years yet.

Also, it appears that Gardiner will release MOST of the cantatas from his
Cantata Pilgrimage, but not all -- but I may be mistaken on that.

I've been collecting the Koopman cycle, and while his recordings aren't
necessarily the last word on the pieces, they're consistently well-played
and sung, and the male soloists in most of the cantatas, Pregardien and
Mertens, are hard to beat. And its final volumes will be released soon.

Tom Wood

[John L. Grant]

Sad to say, I don't think thee's a set out there that really does
justice to ALL of the cantatas. But cherry-picking can get mighty
expensive. Some of the Leusink, which are the cheapest of the lot, I
believe, are pretty good. Others, I'm not so sure. There used to be
a site, the url I forget, where you could here almost all the Leusink
for free, in low quality mp3, of course. Rilling is better live than
recorded. Gardiner I like. Kantorei, Gonnenwein (old-fashioned), did
we mention Harnoncourt?, etc., etc. So many to choose from....

JG