Cantata BWV 4 - Recordings

Cantata BWV 4
Christ lag in Todesbanden

Ref.	BWV 4
German Title	Christ lag in Todesbanden
English Title	Christ lay in the Bonds of Death (by Richard Stokes)
Event	Chorale Cantata for the Easter Sunday Readings: Epistle: 1 Corinthians 5: 6-8; Gospel: Markus 16: 1-8
Composed	Mühlhausen, 1707-1708; Revised: Leipzig, 1724 & 1725 1^st performance: 1707-1708? - Mühlhausen; 2^nd performance: April 9, 1724 - Leipzig; 3^rd performance: April 1, 1725 - Leipzig
Text	Martin Luther
Text	German-1 \| German-2 \| Translations: Catalan-1 \| Dutch-2 \| English-1 \| English-2 \| English-3 \| English-5 \| English-6 \| English-7 \| English-8 \| English-10 \| French-1 \| French-3 \| French-4 \| French-6 \| Hebrew-1 \| Hebrew-3 \| Hungarian-1 \| Indonesian \| Italian-1 \| Italian-2 \| Portuguese-2 \| Russian-1 \| Spanish-1 \| Spanish-2 Chorale Text: Christ lag in Todesbanden
Scoring	Soloists: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass; 4-part Chorus Orchestra: cornetto, 3 trombones, 2 violins, 2 violas, continuo Mvt. 1: Sinfonia \| Mvt. 2: Chorus \| Mvt. 3: Duet \| Mvt. 4: Aria \| Mvt. 5: Chorus \| Mvt. 6: Aria \| Mvt. 7: Aria (Duet) \| Mvt. 8: Chorale
Scoring	Score Vocal & Piano [2.81 MB] \| Score BGA [2.68 MB] Chorales: Mvt. 8 \| Mvt. 8 ver Capella: Mvt. 1 \| Mvt. 2 \| Mvt. 3 \| Mvt. 4 \| Mvt. 5 \| Mvt. 6 \| Mvt. 7 \| Mvt. 8 \| Mvt. 8 ver 2 [cap] Chorale Melody: Christ lag in Todesbanden
References	BGA: I \| NBA: I/9 \| BC: A 54 \| Zwang: K 4 \| First Published: BG, 1851 \| Autograph score (fascimile): ?
Commentary	Crouch \| AMG \| Bethlehem \| Emmanuel Music \| Koster \| AL [Dutch] \| HT [Dutch] \| BK [Dutch] \| Role [French] \| Japanese-1 \| Reyes [Spanish]
Music	Music Examples
Discussions	Week of April 23, 2000; Week of January 23, 2005; Week of May 30, 2010

Contents
Complete Recordings Recordings of Individual Movements	Discussions - Part 1 Discussions - Part 2 Discussions - Part 3
“Actus Tragicus” - Cantatas BWV 4, 12, 106 & 196 - by Konrad Junghänel & Cantus Cölln John Eliot Gardiner - Bach Cantata Pilgrimage - Vol. 22 Complete Cantatas Vol. 1 - conducted by Ton Koopman Edition Bachakademie Vols. 1-20 - conducted by Helmuth Rilling
Recordings - Part 1
Complete Recordings

1	Bach: Cantata No. 4 (Christ lay in the bonds of death) [C-1] Bach: Cantata BWV 4 & Motet BWV 227 [C-1]
Cantata BWV 4 [23:28]
Robert Shaw
RCA Victor Chorale and Orchestra
No soloists are listed
RCA Victor DM-1096 RCA Victor LM-25 RCA Victor LM-9035		1946	4x78rpm / TT: 23:28 10" / TT: 23:28 LP / TT: 48:12
The record jacket lists The RCA Victor Chorale and Orchestra and the record itself lists the Robert Shaw Chorale. Must be a misprint because the Robert Shaw Chorale didn't start until 1948 and this recording was done in 1946 and released in 1949. DM-1096 & LM-25 includes only BWV 4. 1^st recording of Cantata BWV 4 by R. Shaw.

2	J.S. Bach: Matthäus-Passion [V-5] J.S. Bach: Cantata 4, Christ lag in Todesbanden, and Cantata 78, Jesu der du meine Seele [CS-1]
Cantata BWV 4 [25:34]
Günther Ramin
Thomanerchor Leipzig / Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
No soloists; all parts are sung by the choir; Organ: Ekkehart Tietze
Archipel 278 Schola Antiqua GR-1		Feb 24, 1950	3-CD / TT: CD / TT: 50:54
Recorded at Thomaskirche, Leipzig, Germany. The cantata is NOT listed on the Archipel album cover or back, nor on the third CD itself. It's only when you get to the last page of the brief insert that it's listed. Buy this album at: Archipel 3-CD: Amazon.co.uk \| Amazon.de Archipel Music Download: Amazon.co.uk \| Amazon.de CD: Schola Antiqua

3	J.S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 4 · 56 · 82 [C-2]
Fritz Lehmann
Chor der Staatlichen Hochschule fur Musik Frankfurt am Main / Orchester des Bachfestes
Tenor: Helmut Krebs; Bass: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Deutsche Grammophon		Jul-Aug 1950	TT: 25:23
Recorded at Johanniskirche, Göttingen, Germany. Buy this album at: Amazon.com

4	J.S. Bach: Easter Oratorio / Cantata No. 4 [C-1]
Felix Prohaska
Choir & Orchestra of the Bach Guild
Soprano: Anny Felbermayer; Tenor: Fritz Uhl *; Baritone: Hans Braun
Vanguard		1951	TT: 23:10
1^st recording of Cantata BWV 4 by F. Prohaska. Recorded in Vienna, Austria. * In the liner notes to the CD it is written that the tenor singer is Alfred Uhl, who was a composer and pedagogue and not a tenor singer.

5	J.S. Bach: Cantata BWV 4 [C-1]
Roger Wagner
Roger Wagner Chorale / Unknown Orchestraictor Orchestra
Unknown vocal soloists
EMI		1950’s ?	LP / TT:

6	J.S. Bach: Motet No. 3 Jesus, dearest master (Jesu, meine Freude); Cantata No. 4 Christ lay in the bonds of death (Christ lag in Todesbanden) [C-6]
Cantata BWV 4 [26:16]
Robert Shaw
Robert Shaw Chorale / RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
Counter-tenor: Russell Oberlin; Other unknown vocal soloists (one source says the the cantata is sung by the choir, with no soloists)
RCA Victor LSC/LM-2273		BWV 4 [released 1959]	LP / TT: 51:00
Recorded at Manhattan Center, New York, NY, USA. 2^nd recording of Cantata BWV 4 by R. Shaw.

7	J.S. Bach: Famous Cantatas [C-8]
Felix Prohaska
Vienna State Chamber Choir and Opera Orchestra
Soprano: Laurence Dutoit; Tenor: Kurt Equiluz; Bass: Hans Braun; Anton Heiller (continuo); Jurg Schaeftlein (oboe)
Vanguard Classics		May 1959	TT: 21:15
2^nd recording of Cantata BWV 4 by F. Prohaska. Recorded at Großesaal Konzerthaus, Vienna, Austria.

8	Bach Made in Germany Vol. 2 - Cantatas I J.S. Bach: Kantaten BWV 4, BWV 54, BWV 59 [C-11] J.S. Bach: Kantate BWV 4 [L-6]
Kurt Thomas
Thomanerchor Leipzig / Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
Soprano: Agnes Giebel; Alto: Marga Höffgen; Tenor: Hans-Joachim Rotzsch; Bass: Theo Adam
Berlin / Leipzig Classics Eterna EMI 047-28587		Jun 1959	CD / TT: 21:32 LP / TT: LP / TT:
Recorded at Thomaskirche, Leipzig, Germany. Buy this album at:`

9	J.S. Bach: Sonaten und Kantaten [E-3]
Karl Richter
Münchener Bach-Chor / Mitglieder des Orchesters der Münchener Staatoper (actually Bayerisches Staatsorchester)
Bass: Kieth Engen
Teldec		1959	TT: 23:59
1^st recording of Cantata BWV 4 by Karl Richter. Buy this album at: Amazon.com

10	Les Grandes Cantates de J.S. Bach Vol. 8 J.S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 4, 21, 90, 140, 147 [C-1] Bach Cantatas: Volume 1
Fritz Werner
Heinrich-Schütz-Chor Heilbronn / Pforzheim Chamber Orchestra
Alto: Claudia Hellmann; Tenor: Helmut Krebs; Bass: Jakob Stämpfli
Erato / MHS		1961	TT: 28:10
Recorded in Heilbronn, Germany. Buy this album at: Amazon.com [Box Set] \| Amazon.co.uk [Box Set]

11	J.S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 4, BWV 182 [C-1] J.S. Bach: Cantatas 182, 4 & 150 [BMC]
Wilhelm Ehmann
Westfälische Kantorei / Deutsche Bachsolisten
Soprano: Herrad Wehrung; Alto: Frauke Haasemann; Tenor: Johannes Hoefflin; Bass: Wilhelm Pommerien
Cantate / Vanguard Baroque Music Club		July 1964	TT: 20:57
Recorded at Munsterkirche, Herford. Buy this album at: Baroque Music Club

12	Bach Cantatas Vol. 2 - Easter J.S. Bach Compact Edition: Kantaten · Cantatas · Cantates [B-2]
Karl Richter
Münchener Bach-Chor / Münchener Bach Orchester
Bass: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Archiv Produktion		July 1968	TT: 22:03
2^nd recording of Cantata BWV 4 by K. Richter. Recorded at Herkules-Saal, München, Germany. Buy this album at: Amazon.com

13	J.S. Bach: Das Kantatenwerk - Sacred Cantatas Vol. 1
Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Wiener Sängerknaben & Chorus Viennensis (Chorus Master: Hans Gillesberger) / Concentus Musicus Wien
Boy Soprano: (No Name); Alto: Paul Esswood; Tenor: Kurt Equiluz; Bass: Max van Egmond
Teldec		1971	TT: 20:09
Buy this album at: Amazon.com

14	J.S. Bach: Cantatas [E-2]
John Eliot Gardiner
Monteverdi Choir / English Baroque Soloists
Baritone: Stephen Varcoe
Erato		Nov 1980	TT: 22:55
Recorded in All Saints Church, Tooting, England. 1^st recording of Cantata BWV 4 by J.E. Gardiner. Buy this album at: Amazon.com

15	Die Bach Kantate Vol. 13 Edition Bachakademie Vol. 2
Helmuth Rilling
Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart / Bach-Collegium Stuttgart
Soprano: Edith Wiens; Alto: Carolyn Watkinson; Tenor: Peter Schreier; Bass: Wolfgang Schöne
Hänssler		Dec 1980	TT: 19:54
1^st recording of Cantata BWV 4 by H. Rilling. Recorded at Gedächtniskirche Stuttgart, Germany. See: Edition Bachakademie Vols. 1-20 - conducted by Helmuth Rilling Buy this album at: Amazon.com

16	Bach Made in Germany Vol. 4 - Cantatas III Bach: Kantaten BWV 4, BWV 134 [L-9]
Hans-Joachim Rotzsch
Thomanerchor Leipzig / Neues Bachisches Collegium Musicum
No vocal soloists
Eterna / Berlin Classics		1981	TT: 20:01
Recorded at Paul-Gerhardt-Kirche, Leipzig, Germany. Buy this album at: Amazon.de \| Amazon.de

17	J.S. Bach: Cantatas No. 4 & 140 [C-1]
Wayne Riddell
Tudor Singers of Montreal / CBC Vancouver Orchestra
Soprano: Rosemarie Landry; Tenor: Ben Heppner; Bass: Mark Pedrotti
SM / CBC		1985	TT: ~ 22:30

18	J.S. Bach: Oster-Oratorium [C-3]
Andrew Parrott
Taverner Consort & Players
Soprano: Emily van Evera; Alto: Caroline Trevor; Tenor: Charles Daniels; Bass: David Thomas
Virgin		Apr 1993	TT: 18:58
Recorded at St Jude's Church, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, England. Buy this album at: Amazon.com

19	Festlische Reformationskonzert - 475 Jahre Reformation - Thuringia cantat [C-1]
Wolfgang Unger
Thüringischer Akademischer Singkreis / Weimare Barock-Ensemble (mit originalinstrumenten)
-
Thorofon		May 1993	TT: 15:55
Recorded at Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin-Dahlem, Germany. Other works not by J.S. Bach. Buy this album at:

20	J.S. Bach: Cantates BWV 106 - 4 · Motet Der Gerechte kommt um [C-1]
Jean-François Frémont
Petits Chanteurs de Versailles / Sinfonie Saint-Julien
Tenor: Christophe Einhorn; Baritone: Jean-Louis Serre
Memory Song		Nov 1993; Mar 1994	TT: 23:26
Recorded in Versailles, France.

21	J.S. Bach: Cantatas Volume IV - Early Cantatas from Mühlhausen and Weimar - Cantatas for Holy Week [C-4]
Jeffrey Thomas
(OVPP - No Choir) / American Bach Soloists
Soprano: Judith Nelson; Alto: Daniel Taylor; Tenor: Benjamin Butterfield; Bass: Kurt-Owen Richards
Koch International		Mar, Apr 1994	TT: 16:45
Recorded at St. Stephen's Church, Belvedere, CA, USA. Buy this album at: Amazon.com

22	J.S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 1
Ton Koopman
Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir
Soprano: Barbara Schlick; Alto: Kai Wessel; Tenor: Guy de Mey; Bass: Klaus Mertens
Erato / Antoine Marchand		Nov-Dec 1994	TT: 18:50
Plus Appendix, which include 2 renderings of the Sinfonia. The first (1:10) is from the 1724 score, which includes Violins, Viola, Violone and Organ. In the second (1:09) from 1725, a 16’ Bass viol was added. Recorded at Waalse Kerk, Amsterdam, Holland. See: Complete Cantatas Vol. 1 - conducted by Ton Koopman Buy this album at: Amazon.com \| Amazon.com

23	J.S. Bach: Cantatas Vol. 1
Cantata BWV 4 [18:31]
Masaaki Suzuki
Bach Collegium Japan
Soprano: Yumiko Kurisu; Alto: Akira Tachikawa; Tenor: Koki Katano; Bass: Peter Kooy
BIS 751		Jun-Jul 1995	CD / TT: 76:24
Recorded at the Kobe Shoin Women's University Chapel, Japan. Buy this album at: Amazon.com \| Amazon.co.uk \| Amazon.co.uk \| Amazon.de

24	J.S. Bach: Christ lag in Todesbanden; Lobet den Herrn; Himmelskönig sei willkommen [C-8]
Philippe Pierlot
Choeur de Chambre de Namur (Chorus Master: Pierre Cao) / Ricercar Consort (Director: F. Fernandez)
Soprano: Greta de Reyghere; Counter-tenor: Steve Dugardin; Tenor: Ian Honeyman; Bass: Max van Egmond Harpsichord: Siebe Henstra
Ricercar		1995	TT:
Recorded in Liège, Belgium. 1^st recording of Cantata BWV 4 by Ricercar Consort.

25	Lecture Concerts - New Recordings Cantatas [L-11]
Helmuth Rilling
Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart / Bach-Collegium Stuttgart
Soprano: Sibylla Rubens; Alto: Ingeborg Danz; Tenor: Christoph Genz; Bass: Franz-Josef Selig
Hänssler		Apr 1997	TT: 18:05
2^nd recording of Cantata BWV 4 by H. Rilling. Recorded at SWR-Funkstudio Villa Berg, Germany. The recordings were part of series of TV productions "Lecture Concerts with Helmuth Rilling (1997-2000). Buy this album at: Amazon.com \| Amazon.de

26	Bach Cantatas Vol. 22: Eisenach For Easter Sunday / For Easter Monday For Easter Monday / For Easter Tuesday
John Eliot Gardiner
Monteverdi Choir / English Baroque Soloists
All parts are sung by the choir; no Vocal soloists.
Soli Deo Gloria		Apr 2000	TT: 21:45
Live recordings from the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage at Georgenkirche, Eisenach, Germany. 2^nd recording of Cantata BWV 4 by J.E. Gardiner. See: John Eliot Gardiner - Bach Cantata Pilgrimage - Vol. 22 Buy this album at: Amazon.com

27	Bach Edition Vol. 20 - Cantatas Vol. 11
Pieter Jan Leusink
Holland Boys Choir / Netherlands Bach Collegium
Soprano: Ruth Holton; Alto: Sytse Buwalda; Tenor: Nico van der Meel
Brilliant Classics		Jun-Jul 2000	TT: 19:17
Recorded at St. Nicolaschurch, Elburg, Holland. Buy this album at: Amazon.com \| Amazon.com \| Amazon.de

28	J.S. Bach: “Actus Tragicus” - Cantatas BWV 4, 12, 106 & 196 [C-1]
Konrad Junghänel
(OVPP - No Choir) / Cantus Cölln
Soprano: Johanna Koslowsky; Alto: Elisabeth Popien; Tenors: Gerd Türk, Wilfried Jochens; Bass: Stephan Schreckenberger
Harmonia Mundi France		2000	TT: 19:50
See: “Actus Tragicus” - Cantatas BWV 4, 12, 106 & 196 - by Konrad Junghänel & Cantus Cölln Buy this album at: Amazon.com

29	Bach/Webern: Ricercar [C-2]
Christoph Poppen
Hilliard Ensemble (OVPP) / Münchener Kammerorchester
Soprano: Monika Mauch; Counter-tenor: David James; Tenor: Rogers Covey-Crump; Baritone: Gordon Jones
ECM		Jan 2001	TT: 19:26
Recorded at Himmelfahrtskirche Sendling, München, Germany. Buy this album at: Amazon.com

30	Aus der Notenbibliothek von Johann Sebastian Bach, Vol. II [C-2]
Cantata BWV 4 [16:40]
Thomas Hengelbrock
Balthasar-Neumann-Chor / Balthasar-Neumann-Ensemble
Soprano: Dorothee Mields; Tenor: Hans Jörg Mammel; Bass: Wolf-Matthias Friedrich
Hänssler 93.039		Mar 15-17, 2001	CD / TT: 60:25
Recorded at SWR Stuttgart, Sendesaal Villa Berg, Germany. Buy this album at: Amazon.com \| Amazon.de

31	Internationale Bachtage In Hessen Und Thüringen - J.S. Bach: Kantaten BWV 4 und 66 [C-1]
Cantata BWV 4 []
Siegfried Heinrich
Marburger Konzertchor, Posener Knabenchor / Ein Barockorchester
Soprano: Jaehi Yang; Alto: Barbara Müller; Tenor: Daniel Pohnert; Bass: Volker Paulsen
Bad Hersfelder Opernfestpiele		Apr 3, 2002	CD / TT: ~ 50:00
Recorded live at St.-Albert-Kirche, Frankfurt, Germany. Buy this album at: Bad Hersfelder Opernfestpiele

32	Abu Gosh Concerts Festival Volume 3 [C-3]
Hanna Tzur
Ramat-Gan Chamber Choir
?
Timeless Recordings		Sep 2002	TT: 24:17
Recorded on location at the Abu Gosh Concert Festival.

33	J.S. Bach: Early Cantatas Volume 1 [C-1]
Cantata BWV 4 [20:56]
-
(OVPP - No Choir) / Purcell Quartet
Soprano: Emma Kirkby; Counter-tenor: Michael Chance; Tenor: Charles Daniels; Bass: Peter Harvey
Chandos Chaconne 715		Dec 1, 2002; Mar 8, 2004	CD / TT: 76:35
Recorded at St Jude on the Hill, Hampstead, London, England. Buy this album at: CD: Amazon.com \| Amazon.co.uk \| Amazon.de Music Download: Amazon.com \| Amazon.co.uk \| ClassicsOnline

34	Bach: Aus der Tieffen [C-10]
Cantata BWV 4 [18:36]
Philippe Pierlot
(OVPP - No Choir) / Ricercar Consort
Soprano: Katharine Fuge; Counter-tenor: Carlos Mena; Tenor: Hans Jörg Mammel; Bass: Stephan MacLeod
Mirare Records 057		Nov 2007	CD / TT: 67:57
Recorded at Église de Saint Loup sur Thouet, France. 2^nd recording of Cantata BWV 4 by Ricercar Consort. Buy this album at: CD: Amazon.com \| Amazon.co.uk \| Amazon.co.uk \| Amazon.de \| Amazon.de Music Download: Amazon.com \| Amazon.co.uk

35	Jesu, meine Freude [C-2]
Cantata BWV 4 []
Lisette Canton
Ottawa Bach Choir / Chamber Orchestra
Soprano Agnes Zsigovics; Counter-tenor: Daniel Taylor; Tenor: Benjamin Butterfield; Bass-Baritone: Daniel Lichti.
Ottawa Bach Choir		2008	CD / TT: 63:51

The list of recordings was compiled by Aryeh Oron (April 2000 - September 2009)
Thanks to Contributors: Yoël L. Arbeitman (July 2009), Thérèse Hanquet (February 2007), Matthias Hansen (July 2006, August 2006, June 2008), Frits van Laeken Herbold (São Paulo, Brazil - March 2008), Pierre-F. Roberge (July 2009), Peter Schmidt (May 2005), Jean-Louis Serre (March 2006), Russ Sackowitz (September 2008), Thomas Shepherd (April 2007), Burke Smith (November 2007), Peter Tanzer (November 2001), Bradley Taylor (April 2005, July 2009)

Cantata BWV 4: Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements | Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

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Last update: ýMarch 4, 2008 ý15:22:35

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