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The Chorale Cantata BWV 4 "Christ lag in Todesbanden" (BGA) or "Christ lag in Todes Banden" (NBA) (Christ lay in death's bonds) was composed by J.S. Bach in Mühlhausen for Easter Sunday in 1707-1708. He revised the cantata and performed it again in Leipzig two more times, in 1724 and 1725. Cantata BWV 4 was originally scored for soprano, alto, tenor & bass soloists; 4-part Chorus; and orchestra of 2 violins, 2 violas & continuo. In the later version J.S. Bach added cornett and 3 trombones. The text of the cantata is the 7 verses of a single Easter chorale "Christ lag in Todesbanden" by Martin Luther and the chorale melody used in all 8 movements is "Christ lag in Todesbanden" by Martin Luther & Johann Walter based on an old tune.
The discography of the complete recordings of Cantata BWV 4 (157) on the BCW has been revised, expanded and updated. The discography is presented chronologically by recording date in 9 pages, a page per a decade. The first recording of the cantata is was done by Lluis Millet and Orfeó Catalá de Barcelona in March 1931; one of the most recent is by John Eliot Gardiner and his Monteverdi Choir & English Baroque Soloists (his 4th recording of the cantata), recorded live over 90 years later, in September 2021. In both of these recordings all the parts are sung by sections of the choir without soloists. Between them you can find OVPP performances (4 vocal soloists without choir) and various combinations of vocal soloists and choir. On the BCW there are also 6 discussion pages of this cantata. All are linked from the main page of the cantata: https://www.bach-cantatas.com/BWV4.htm
The revised discography includes many listening/watching options as part of the recording details. When you click a link to video/audio, a new window will open above the discography page and the video/audio will start to play.
I believe this is the most comprehensive discography of this cantata. If you are aware of a complete recording of BWV 4 missing from these pages, or want to correct/add details of a recording already presented on the BCW, please inform me. |
