Gems from a huge oeuvre Our most familiar image of Johann Sebastian Bach is that of Cantor of the Thomaskirche in Leipzig. For twenty-seven years he was responsible for the church music on Sundays and feast days in the town’s four main churches. For this purpose he composed his many cantatas, the now world-famous passions and the six motets. The enormous number of cantatas (an estimated 250) written by Bach in Leipzig, combined with their outstanding quality, is one of the most astonishing creative achievements in western culture. For their performance he selected the best choral singers from the pupils of the nearby Thomasschule and students from Leipzig University. In his Componirstube, or composing parlour, Bach handled his musical material with scrupulousness and self-assurance. In so doing, the practice of borrowing, or readapting existing music to fulfil urgent day-to-day requirements, was no unusual matter. It was also a way of drawing attention to forgotten pieces, and a sign that Bach was well aware of the enduring quality of his music. This CD presents a wonderful anthology of gems from Bach’s huge output of cantatas.
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Bach, J S: Cantata BWV32 'Liebster Jesu, mein Verlangen'
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Bach, J S: Cantata BWV49 'Ich geh und suche mit Verlangen'
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Bach, J S: Cantata BWV68 'Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt'
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Bach, J S: Cantata BWV105 'Herr, gehe nicht ins Gericht mit deinem Knecht'
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Bach, J S: Cantata BWV196 'Der Herr denket an uns' (Wedding Cantata)
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Bach, J S: Cantata BWV202 'Weichet Nur, betrübte Schatten' (Wedding Cantata)
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Bach, J S: Cantata BWV68 'Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt: Mein glaubiges Herze
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Bach, J S: Keyboard Concerto No. 5 in F minor, BWV1056
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Bach, J S: Keyboard Concerto No. 5 in F minor, BWV1056: II. Largo
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Bach, J S: Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV1066