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Additional Information

Recordings & Discussions of Cantatas: Cantatas BWV 1-50 | Cantatas BWV 51-100 | Cantatas BWV 101-150 | Cantatas BWV 151-200 | Cantatas BWV 201-224 | Cantatas BWV Anh | Order of Discussion

Cantata BWV 63
Christen, ätzet diesen Tag

Ref.

BWV 63

German Title

Christen, ätzet diesen Tag

English Title

Christians, engrave this (glad) day (by Alec Robertson)

Event

Cantata for Christmas Day
Readings: Epistle: Titus 2: 11-14 / Isaiah 9: 2-7; Gospel: Luke 2: 1-14

Composed

Probably Weimar, 1714-15
1st performance: December 25, 1714 - Weimar
2nd performance: December 25, 1723 - Leipzig
3rd performance: December 25, 1729 ? - Leipzig

Text

Johann Michael Heineccius ?

German Text | German-2 | Translations: Catalan-1 | Dutch | English-1 | English-3 | English-6 | French-3 | French-4 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian | Italian-2 | Japanese-6 | Russian-1 | Spanish-2

Scoring

Soloists: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass; 4-part Chorus
Orchestra: 4 trumpets, timpani, 3 oboes, bassoon, 2 violins, viola, organ, continuo
Mvt. 1: Chorus | Mvt. 2: Recitative | Mvt. 3: Aria (Duet) | Mvt. 4: Recitative | Mvt. 5: Aria (Duet) | Mvt. 6: Recitative | Mvt. 7: Chorus

Score Vocal & Piano [2.30 MB] | Score BGA [4.81 MB]

References

BGA: XVI | NBA: I/2 | BC: A 8 | Zwang: K 9 | First Published: BG, 1868 | Autograph score (Facsimile): ?

Commentary

Crouch | AMG | Bethlehem | Emmanuel Music | Mincham | Role [French] | Japanese-1 | Reyes [Spanish]

Music

Music Examples

Discussions

Week of December 20, 1999; Week of December 25, 2005; Week of February 8, 2009

Contents

  

Complete Recordings
Recordings of Individual Movements

Discussions - Part 1 (1st round)
Discussions - Part 2 (2nd round)
Discussions - Part 3 (3rd round)

DVD John Eliot Gardiner in Rehearsal
Christmas Cantatas from Leipzig - conducted by Philippe Herreweghe

Recordings - Part 1

Complete Recordings

1

J.S. Bach: Cantata BWV 63 [C-1]

  

Cantatas BWV 63 []

Michael Gielen

Wiener Kammerchor / Vienna State Opera Orchestra

Soprano: Margit Opawsky; Contralto: Hilde Rössel-Majdan; Tenor: Waldemar Kmentt; Bass: Harald Hermann

Vanguard Bach Guild BG-518

1952

LP / TT:

Recorded in Europe.

2

J.S. Bach: Cantata 63, Christen, ätzet diesen Tag, and the Magnificat [CS-2]

  

Cantata BWV 63 []

Günther Ramin

Thomanerchor Leipzig / Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

Soprano: Ulrike Taube; Alto: Sibylla Plate; Tenor: Gert Lutze; Bass: Hannes Hans Hauptmann; Organ: Hannes Kästner

Schola Antiqua GR-2

Dec 11, 1953

CD / TT:

Recorded at Thomaskirche, Leipzig, Germany.
These are informal recordings, courtesy of Dr. Dieter Ramin, Günther’s son; they are generally available for the first time.
Buy this album at:
CD: Schola Antiqua

3

Bach Kantaten, Vol. 3: BWV 63, BWV 40, BWV 152 [D-3]

 
 

Cantata BWV 63 [31:23]

Diethard Hellmann

Bachchor und Bachorchester Mainz

Soprano: Halina Łukomska; Alto: Marie-Luise Gilles; Tenor: Alexander Young; Bass: Siegmund Nimsgern
Fred Schweinfurter (1st Oboe); Hans Bogacki (2nd Oboe); Karl-Heinz Dieckmann (3rd Oboe); Heinz Zickler, Fritz Kelber, Efstathis Monogenis (Bach Trumpets); Günther Schuldt (Bassoon); Werner Taube (Continuo-Cello); Martha Schuster (Obbligato Organ); Reinhard Bertram (Continuo-Organ)

DdM-Records Mitterteich 990015

Late 1960’s ? (P 1999)

CD / TT: 67:11

Recorded by SWF at Christuskirche, Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
Buy this album at:
CD: Musik aus Mitterteich - Hubertus Krämer

4

J.S. Bach: Cantate pour le premier jour/Noel [C-2]

  

Cantatas BWV 63 []

Justus von Websky

Chœur Bach de Paris et Orchestre (Orch. Chambre Justus v. Websky)

Vocal soloists: unknown

Disque Charlin AMS-111

Late 1960’s

LP / TT:
 

5

Bach Cantatas Vol. 1 - Advent and Christmas

Karl Richter

Münchener Bach-Chor / Münchener Bach-Orchester

Soprano: Edith Mathis; Alto: Anna Reynolds; Tenor: Peter Schreier; Bass: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

Archiv Produktion

Jun-Jul 1970; Jun-Jul 1971; Mar-Apr 1972 (Duet)

TT: 29:38

Recorded at Herkulessaall, München, Germany.
Buy this album at: Amazon.com

6

Die Bach Kantate Vol. 61
Edition Bachakademie Vol. 20

Helmuth Rilling

Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart / Bach-Collegium Stuttgart

Soprano: Maria Friesenhausen (Die Bach Kantate) or Arleen Augér (Edition Bachakademie); Altos: Julia Hamari (Mvt. 2), Hildegard Laurich (Mvt. 5); Tenor: Adalbert Kraus, Bass: Wolfgang Schöne (Mvt. 3, 6)

Hänssler

Feb 1971 (Mvts. 4-6); Feb 1981 (rest)

TT: 28:29

Recorded at Gedächtniskirche Stuttgart, Germany.
Buy this album at: Amazon.com | Amazon.com

7

J.S. Bach: Das Kantatenwerk · Complete Cantatas · Les Cantates, Folge / Vol. 16 - BWV 61-64
J.S. Bach: Das Kantatenwerk - Sacred Cantatas Vol. 4 - BWV 61-78
Bach-2000 Vol. 2: Sacred Cantatas 2 - BWV 48-52, 54-69, 69a, 70-99
Bach: Cantatas / Kantaten Vol. 19 - BWV 61-63

 
 
 

Cantata BWV 63 [28:46 / 29:54]

Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Tölzer Knabenchor (Chorus Master: Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden) / Concentus Musicus Wien

Boy Soprano: Peter Jelosits (Soloist of the Wiener Sängerknaben), Alto: Paul Esswood, Tenor: Kurt Equiluz, Bass: Ruud van der Meer

Telefunken 6.35306
Teldec 8.35306 ZL & 242 565-2
Teldec 4509-91758-2
Teldec 3984-25707-2
Teldec 8573-81196-2
Warner Classics 8573-81196-5

Nov 1975

2-LP / TT: 83 min
2-CD / TT: 82:15
6-CD / TT: / 389:16
15-CD / TT: 963:00
CD / TT: 63:40
CD / TT: 63:40

Recorded at Casino Zögernitz, Vienna, Austria.
Buy this album at:
 6-CD (1994): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Music Download 6-CD: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
15-CD (1999): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Teldec CD (2000): Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Warner CD (2007): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Music Download CD: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de


8

Christmas in Leipzig [C-1]

Greg Funfgeld

Bach Choir of Bethlehem / Bach Festival Orchestra

Soprano: Sylvia McNair; Alto: Janice Taylor; Tenor: David Gordon; Bass: Daniel Lichti

Dorian

Feb 1988

TT: 29:50

Recorded at the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, PA, USA.
Buy this album at: Amazon.com

9

Bach Festival 56th Annual Baldwin-Wallace College: Second Concert [F56-2]

  

Cantata BWV 63 []

Dwight Oltman

Baldwin-Wallace College Choir / Festival Chamber Orchestra

Soprano: Lorna Haywood; Mezzo-soprano: Catherine Robbin; Tenor: Glenn Siebert; Baritone: William Parker

Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music BW Tape 88-43b

May 20, 1988

MC / TT:

Recorded live at Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, Ohio, USA.
Source: WorldCat Libraries & OPAL (Ohio Private Academic Library)

10

»50 Bach-Kantaten aufgeführt in japanischer Sprache« Vol. 8

Cantata BWV 63 [31:49] - sung in Japanese translation by Emiko Ohmura

Emiko Ohmura

Bach-Chor Tokyo / Tokyo Cantata Chamber Orchestra

Soprano: Ayako Yamada; Alto: Mariko Sasaki; Tenor: Kenzo Ishii; Bass: Keiichi Usami; Organ: Miyako Kusama

Bach-Chor Tokyo BACHCD 08

Dec 11, 1993

CD / TT: 51:24

Recorded at live at Ishibashi Memorial Hall, Tokyo, Japan.
Source: J.S. Bach: »50 Bach-Kantaten aufgeführt in japanischer Sprache« Vols. 1-20: CD

11

J.S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 3
J.S. Bach: Christmas Cantatas [B-2]
Bach-2000 Vol. 5 - Secular Cantatas [B-0]

 
 

Cantata BWV 63 [28:20]
Appendix: Alternate version of the Duet for Soprano & Bass Gott, du hast es wohl gefüget (Mvt. 3) [6:42]
For a performance in Leipzig around 1729 Bach replaced the solo oboe in the first duet with an obbligato organ, but without altering the nature of the solo writing.

Ton Koopman

Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir

Soprano: Ruth Holton; Alto: Elisabeth von Magnus; Tenor: Paul Agnew; Bass: Klaus Mertens

Erato 0630-14336-2
Antoine Marchand CC-72203
Antoine Marchand CC-72230
Teldec

Sep 1995

3-CD / TT: 195:24
3-CD / TT: 195:24
3-CD / TT: 214:53
11-CD / TT

Includes Appendix. Recorded at Waalse Kerk, Amsterdam, Holland.
Buy this album at:
Erato 3-CD (1996): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Antoine Marchand 3-CD (2004): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Music Download: Amazon.com | ClassicsOnline
Christmas Cantatas 3-CD (2004): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Music Download: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de | ClassicsOnline
Teldec 11-CD (2000): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de [Appendix only]

12

J.S. Bach: Magnificat - A Bach Christmas [C-1]

Philip Pickett

New London Consort

Soprano: Catherine Bott; Counter-tenor: Christopher Robson; Tenor: Paul Agnew; Bass: Michael George

L'Oiseau-Lyre

Oct 1995

TT: 26:06

Recorded at Walthamstow Assembly Hall, London, England.
Buy this album at: Amazon.com

13

J.S. Bach: Cantatas Vol. 7 - BWV 61, 63, 132, 172

  
 

Cantata BWV 63 [28:57]

Masaaki Suzuki

Bach Collegium Japan

Soprano: Ingrid Schmithüsen; Alto: Yoshikazu Mera; Tenor: Makoto Sakurada; Bass: Peter Kooy

BIS 881

Jul 1997

CD / TT: 77:31

Recorded at the Kobe Shoin Women's University Chapel, Japan.
Buy this album at:
CD: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Music Download: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de | ClassicsOnline

14

Composer of the Month - J.S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 63, 150 & 182 [C-2]

Stephen Cleobury

BBC Singers / Orchestra of St. James

Soprano: Alison Smart; Alto: Penny Vickers; Tenor: Andrew MacKenzie-Wicks; Bass: Stephen Charlesworth

BBC Music Magazine

Nov 1997

TT: 26:21
Recorded live at public concerts in St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, London, England.

15

J.S. Bach: Christmas Cantatas [C-10]

 

Cantata BWV 63 [26:34]

John Eliot Gardiner

Monteverdi Choir / English Baroque Soloists

Soprano: Ann Monoyios; Contralto: Sara Mingardo; Tenor: Rufus Müller; Bass: Stephan Loges

Archiv Produktion 463589

Dec 1998

CD / TT: 81:17

Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, England.
1st recording of Cantata BWV 63 by J.E. Gardiner.
Buy this album at:
CD: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Music Download: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de

16

In Rehearsal with John Eliot Gardiner (Bach Cantata No. 63) [D-2]

Cantata BWV 63 []

John Eliot Gardiner

Monteverdi Choir / English Baroque Soloists

Soprano: Ann Monoyios; Alto: Sara Mingardo; Tenor: Rufus Müller; Bass: Stephan Loges

ArtHouse

1999

DVD / TT: ~ 59:00

1st recording of Cantata BWV 63 by J.E. Gardiner.
Most probably the same reccording as [13] above.
See: DVD John Eliot Gardiner in Rehearsal
Buy this album at: Amazon.com

17

Bach Cantatas Vol. 18: Weimar/Leipzig/Hamburg
For Christmas Day & for Epiphany
For the 1st Sunday after Epiphany

 
 

Cantata BWV 63 [26:28]

John Eliot Gardiner

Monteverdi Choir / English Baroque Soloists

Soprano: Claron McFadden; Alto: Bernarda Fink; Tenor: Christoph Genz; Bass: Dietrich Henschel

Soli Deo Gloria 174

Dec 25, 1999

2-CD / TT: 131:09

Live recordings from the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage, at Herderkirche, Weimar, Germany.
2nd recording of Cantata BWV 63 by J.E. Gardiner.
Buy this album at:
2-CD: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Music Download: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de | ClassicsOnline

18

J. S. Bach: Karácsonyi kantáták - Christmas Cantatas BWV 63, 40, 64 [C-2]

Cantata BWV 63 []

Soma Dinyés

Ars Longa Choir & Orchestra (Ars Longa Ének és Zenekar)

Soprano: Gabriella Jani, Alto: József Csapó, Tenor: Martin Koch; Bass: Zoltán Mizsei

MAE-003

2000

CD / TT:

Recorded in Budapest. Hungary.
Source: Corvina Consort

19

Bach Edition Vol. 18 - Cantatas Vol. 9

 
 

Cantata BWV 63 [28:12]

Pieter Jan Leusink

Holland Boys Choir / Netherlands Bach Collegium

Soprano: Marjon Strijk; Alto: Sytse Buwalda; Tenor: Nico van der Meel; Bass: Bas Ramselaar

Brilliant Classics 99377

Spring 2000

5-CD / TT: 307:14

Recorded at St. Nicolaschurch, Elburg, Holland.
Buy this album at:
5-CD: Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de | Amazon.de | Amazon.de

20

J.S. Bach: Christmas Cantatas from Leipzig [C-15]

Philippe Herreweghe

Collegium Vocale Gent

Soprano: Carolyn Sampson; Alto: Ingeborg Danz; Tenor: Mark Padmore; Bass: Sebastian Noack

Harmonia Mundi France

Dec 2002

TT: 27:16

Recorded at Arsenal de Metz, France.
See: Christmas Cantatas from Leipzig - conducted by Philippe Herreweghe
Buy this album at: Amazon.com | Amazon.com

21

Marshall University Chamber Choir [C-4]

  

Cantata BWV 63 []

David Castleberry; Albert Zabel

Marshall University Chamber Choir / Chamber Orchestra

Vocal soloists: unknown

Marshall University: Department of Music

2003

CD / TT:

Recorded at Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, USA.
Source: WorldCat Libraries

22

Vivasldi - Bach - Händel [C-2]

Cantata BWV 63 [29:13]

Michaela Prentl

SabestiansChor München / Barockorchester La Banda

Soprano: Susanne von Sicherer; Alto: Stefanie Früh; Tenor: Wolfgang Frisch; Bass: Thomas Hamberger

Chorgemeinschaft St. Sebastian CD-19

Dec 3, 2006

2-CD / TT: 98:37

Recorded live at St. Sebastian, München - Schwabig, Germany.
Buy this album at: Chorgemeinschaft St. Sebastian

23

J.S. Bach: Kantate BWV 63 “Christen, ätzet diesen Tag“ [C-20]
Bachkantaten N°4 (BWV 78, 54, 63)

 
 

Cantata BWV 63 []

Rudolf Lutz

Vokalensemble der Schola Seconda Pratica / Schola Seconda Pratica

Soprano: Eva Oltiványi; Counter-tenor: Jan Börner; Tenor: Julius Pfeifer; Bass: Markus Volpert

Gallus Media A496
J.S. Bach-Stiftung St. Gallen
=

Dec 19, 2008

DVD / TT:
CD / TT:
MP3 / TT: 60:51

Recorded live at Evangelische Kirche, Trogen, Switzerland.
Buy this album at:
DVD: J.S. Bach-Stiftung, St. Gallen: Shop
CD (2012): J.S. Bach-Stiftung St. Gallen: Shop
Music Download (2012): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de

24

Bach: Magnificat Live [C-3]

Cantata BWV 63 []

Hans-Christoph Rademann

RIAS-Kammerchor / Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin

Soprano: Sunhae Im; Alto: Gerhild Romberger; Tenor: Thomas Michael Allen; Bass: Roderick Williams

Rapidshare

Dec 9, 2009

CD / TT:

Live concert broadcasted from le Théatre des Champs Élysées, Paris, France.
France-Musique/ Freecorder 4/ mp3DirectCut/ Just The Music For You (bitrate is 128 kbps, infos in French included)
Download this recording from Rapidshare: CD

25

Bach: Cantata 63; Mendelssohn: Vom Himmel hoch; Vaughan Williams: The First Nowell [C-1]

Cantata BWV 63 []

Vladimir Jurowski

London Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir

Soprano: Lisa Milne; Mezzo-soprano: Ruxandra Donose; Tenor: Andrew Staples; Baritone: Christopher Maltman

LPO LPO-0050

Dec 5, 2009

CD / TT:

Recorded live at Royal Festival Hall, London, England.
Release date: November 2010

26

Thomanerchor Leipzig - Das Kirchenjahr mit Bach, Vol. 2: Weinchnacten · Christmas - Cantatas BWV 63, 110, 190

 

Cantata BWV 63 [27:18]

Georg Christoph Biller

Thomanerchor Leipzig / Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

Boy Soprano: Friedrich Praetorius (Soloist of the Thomanerchor Leipzig); Alto: Stefan Kahle (Soloist of the Thomanerchor Leipzig); Tenor: Christoph Genz; Bass: Matthias Weichert

Rondeau Production ROP-4043

Jan 28-29, 2011

CD / TT: 74:18

Recorded during the weekly cantata services at Thomaskirche, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
Buy this album at:
CD (2011): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Music Download: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de | ClassicsOnline

The list of recordings was compiled by Aryeh Oron (December 1999 - March 2013)
Thanks to contributors: Anandgyan (December 2009), Henri Dété (October 2003), Dan Dews (February 2013), Frits V. Herbold (February 2012, April 2012), Jean-Gabriel Puyraveau (October-November 2011), David Sherr (November 2004)

Cantata BWV 63: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements | Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Recordings & Discussions of Cantatas: Cantatas BWV 1-50 | Cantatas BWV 51-100 | Cantatas BWV 101-150 | Cantatas BWV 151-200 | Cantatas BWV 201-224 | Cantatas BWV Anh | Order of Discussion

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Last update: ýMarch 18, 2013 ý11:10:12