Bach Cantatas Website - Newsletters
Year 2012

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The Bach Cantatas Website celebrates its 11^th anniversary

Aryeh Oron wrote (January 3, 2012):
Hi Bach ML members,

The Bach Cantatas Website (BCW) was launched in its current form and address on December 30, 2000.

The BCW is located at: http://www.bach-cantatas.com
Description: The Bach Cantatas Website (BCW) is a comprehensive site covering all aspects of J.S. Bach's cantatas and his other vocal works. The BCW contains discussions and detailed discographies of each cantata and other vocal works, performers and general topics. The BCW also contains texts and translations, scores, music examples, articles and interviews, and over 8,200 short biographies of performers of Bach's vocal works and players of his keyboard and lute works, as well as of poets & composers associated with Bach. There are also other relevant resources such as the Lutheran church year, database of chorale texts & melodies and their authors, detailed discographies of many Bach's instrumental works (solo keyboard, lute, Art of Fugue, Musical Offering, etc.) and piano & orchestral transcriptions and their performers, reviews and discussions of Bach's instrumental works, books and movies on Bach, terms and abbreviations, schedule of concerts of Bach's vocal works, Bach
Festivals & Cantata Series, guide to Bach tour, Bach in arts & memorabilia, thousands of links to other relevant resources. The BCW is an international collective project, being compiled from various postings about the subject, most of which have been sent to the Bach Mailing Lists.

Some statistics: by the end of 2011, the BCW contains over 25,000 pages, 79,000 photos, 3,200 music files, and 1,500 PDF files.
The BCW is definitely the most popular site dedicated to J.S. Bach and his music and amongst the most popular sites dedicated to Classical Music in general.
The BCW has each day about 12,000 visits, from about 10,000 users, who see about 40,000-50,000 pages.
The BCW is rated very high in Google and other search engines, and there over 450,000 links from other websites to the BCW (including, for example, over 3,000 links from Wikipedia)

There have been many improvements & additions to the BCW last year. See:
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/New/Newsletter-2011.htm

As the creator of the BCW, not to me to testify for the value it has to the users. I know that it is extensively used by the academic community, by musicians, and by classical music fans around the world. The number of visits and the feedback I am getting continuously encourage me to continue, expanding, updating and improving the BCW. Many of the feedback messages from last year can be read at the page:
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Topics/About-2011.htm

I would like to use this opportunity to thank the numerous contributors to the discussions in the Bach Mailing Lists and some other lists, whose messages are compiled into the pages of the BCW. Their names are mentioned accordingly above each quoted message. I would also like to thank the many Bach lovers around the world who have sent me material to be included in the BCW, such as articles, translation of cantata texts, recording details, biographies, photos, music examples, links to other sites, etc. Their names are mentioned accordingly in the relevant pages.

I continue to look forward to receiving your comments (corrections, suggestions, improvements, etc.) about the BCW. The instructions how to send me comments, appear at::
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/How.htm

I wish you all another Great and Happy Bach Year!

BCW: Suzuki's Liner Notes

Aryeh Oron wrote (January 15, 2012):
At the main cantata pages I have added links to the liner notes of the first 49 albums in Suzuki's Bach Cantata Series (BIS). The notes were written by well-known authorities in the field as Klaus Hofmann, Tadashi Isoyama, and Masaaki Suzuki himself. The notes are in PDF format and linked from the button "Liner Notes" below the front/back covers of the Suzuki albums.

Last year I have added the notes to the Cantata Series of John Eliot Gardiner from his Bach Cantata Pilgrimage (Soli Deo Gloria), Ton Koopman (Antoine Marchand/Challenge Classics) and Jeffrey Thomas/American Bach Soloists. All of these, together with Julian Mincham's exemplary essays on his website, Craig Smith on Emmanuel Music website, Francis Browne's notes on the texts on the BCW and others, provide enough background material to prepare yourself for the weekly cantata discussions.

BCW: Werner and Leusink Bach Cantata Cycles

Aryeh Oron wrote (February 14, 2012):
In my continuing efforts to improve the data presented on the BCW, I revise the discographies of the recorded Bach Cantata Cycles. I have already finished the major series by John Eliot Gardiner from his Bach Cantata Pilgrimage (Soli Deo Gloria), Ton Koopman/Amsterdam Baroque Choir & Orchestra (Erato & Antoine Marchand/Challenge Classics), Masaaki Suzuki/Bach Collegium Japan (BIS), and some smaller scale enterprises by Johannes Somary/Amor Artis Chorale (various labels), Felix Prohaska/various ensembles (Vanguard/Bach Guild), Purcell Quartet (Chandos), Eric J. Milnes/Montreal Baroque (ATMA Classique), Daniel Taylor/Theatre of Early Music (ATMA Classique), Bernard Labadie/Les Violons du Roy (Dorian), Christophe Coin/Ensemble Baroque de Limoges, Craig Smith/Emmanuel Music (Koch), Jeffrey Thomas/American Bach Soloists, Sigiswald Kuijken/La Petit Bande (Accent). .

The revision includes full recording details: exact recording dates & locations, all the published issues (both LP's & CD's), TT of each work and of the album, big front & back cover photos and liner notes where possible.

I have just finished two other major cycles: Fritz Werner and his forces on Erato/Musical Heritage Society (1957-1973) and Pieter Jan Leusink/Holland Boys Choir & Netherlands Bach Collegium on Brilliant Classics (1999-2000).

See:
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Performers/Werner.htm
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Performers/Leusink.htm
Linked from:
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Performers/index.htm
and all the relevant cantata pages on the BCW.

BCW: Harnoncourt & Leonhardt recorded cantata cycle revised, expanded and updated

Aryeh Oron wrote (March 20, 2012):
After about 2 months effort I am glad to inform you that I have finished revising, expanding and updating the discography of the pioneering recorded cycle of the Bach Cantatas by Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the late Gustav Leonhardt (AKA: H&L).

This recorded cycle was printed at least 6 times:

a. 45 LP albums, where each album contained 2-LP's (Telefunken, 1971-1989):
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Performers/H&L-Rec6.htm
b. 1st CD Edition - direct reissue of the LP edition, where each original 2-LP album was printed on a single or double CD (Teldec, 1985-1989):
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Performers/H&L-Rec6.htm
c. 2nd CD Edition - 10 boxes of 6-CD's (1994):
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Performers/H&L-Rec2.htm
d. 3rd CD Edition - included in the Bach-2000 Complete Bach Works. The same 60 CD's of the 2nd edition were grouped in 4 boxes (Vol.1-4 of the Bach-2000), each box contained 15-CD's (Teldec, 1999):
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Performers/H&L-Rec5.htm
e. 4th CD Edition - 60 individual CD's from the 3rd Edition (Teldec, 2000):
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Performers/H&L-Rec7.htm
f. 5th CD Edition - 60 individual CD's, identical with the 4th CD (Warner, 2006-2008):
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Performers/H&L-Rec7.htm

Some cantatas from this cycle were grouped individually or in special box sets.

I have searched and found exact recording dates & locations of many cantatas (some, especially of the later recordings, are still missing). This info has never been presented in either of the releases.

Frits Herbold from Brazil has scanned the front & back covers & the liner notes of the 1st CD Edition for the BCW.
The good commentaries in the liner notes were written by several authors: Alfred Dürr! (Vols. 1-12), Ludwig Finscher (Vols. 13-31), Gerhard Schumacher (Vols. 32-36, 38-40), Hans Christoph Worbs (Vol. 37), and Nele Anders (Vol. 41-45). In some liner notes there are very important and interesting comments on the performances by Harnoncourt himself.

All the cantata pages have been updated with the info of all the releases of this recorded cycle, including cat. nos., cover photos, liner notes and recording dates & locations.

That means that for most of the cantatas you can now read on the BCW liner notes of the recorded cantata cycles by H&L, Gardiner, Koopman, Suzuki, Leusink, Montreal Baroque, American Bach Soloists, Purcell Quartet and several others.

BCW: Over 500 Goldbergs!

Aryeh Oron wrote (May 1, 2012):
The discography pages of the Goldberg Variations BWV 988 on the BCW have been revised & updated:
See: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/NVD/BWV988-Rec1.htm
The discography is arranged chronologically by recording date, a page per a decade.
With over 500 different recordings this is certainly Bach's most recorded solo keyboard work, although the discography includes also many arrangements.
If you have any correction, addition, etc., please inform me.

BCW: 209 SJP's

Aryeh Oron wrote (May 24, 2012):
The discography pages of the Johannes-Passion BWV 245 on the BCW have been revised & updated:
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Vocal/BWV245-Rec1.htm
The discography is arranged chronologically by recording date, a page per a decade.
The discography contains 209 complete recordings, both commercial and non-commercial, including 4 sung in English and one in French.
If you have any correction, addition, etc., please inform me.

BCW: French Commentaries on Bach Sacred Cantatas

Aryeh Oron wrote (August 6, 2012):
Claude Role has just finished his 5 years project of preparing French commentaries on all the Bach sacred cantatas for the BCW..
The commentaries are linked from the Index pages to Commentaries on Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works:
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Guide/index.htm
marked as Role in the 9th column (Fre).
Role commentaries are also linked from the cantata main pages, the line Commentaries.

New Set of Spanish Translations on the BCW

Aryeh Oron wrote (August 19, 2012):
A new complete set of Spanish translations of Bach sacred cantatas has been added to the BCW. The new set was contributed solely by Saúl Botero-Restrepo from Colombia.
See: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Texts/IndexTexts-Spa7-BWV.htm
or: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Texts/index.htm
[marked as Spa-7 the 16^th column - Spa]
Links from the cantata pages would be added later.
In 2012, there are about 400 million people speaking Spanish as a native language and a total of 500 million speakers world-wide. Spanish is the second most natively spoken language in the world, after Mandarin Chinese. Spanish is the second most studied language in the world, after English. I hope that the these translations as well as the previous set of Spanish translations on the BCW, contributed by 6 different translators, would intensify the understanding of the Bach Cantatas and enjoyment from them by Spanish-speaking Classical music lovers.

BCW: New Home Page

Aryeh Oron wrote (August 19, 2012):
The BCW Home Page has been completely revised.
See: http://www.bach-cantatas.com
The new Home Page is self-explanatory, and I hope more user-friendly and inviting.
Please take a look and give me your feedback.

BCW: New Home Page - Updates

Aryeh Oron wrote (August 23, 2012):
As promised a few days ago, I have added all the cantata discussions to the BCW up to the current Cantata BWV 163. The 5 most recent cantata discussion pages are linked from the Home Page: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/index.htm
[the box "Cantatas" 1^st in the 1^st row]
The links are to the recent discussion page of each cantata, which includes inter-links to previous discussions of the work.

The 1^st box in the 9^th row "Works for Discussion" presents a short list of the discussed works: this week, two weeks before, two weeks ahead.

People who want to join the BCML and participate in the discussions can do it now directly from the Home Page.See the 1^st box in the 10^th row.
<>

BCW: More Changes

Aryeh Oron wrote (August 26, 2012):
More changes in the BCW:
A. The vertical menu on the left side has been revised to make it more "modern" and easier to use.
B. Facebook, Google+ and Twitter buttons have been added in the upper right corner, including the option to add comments. This feature allows you informing your friends in the social networks of the pages you like.

These changes have been implemented in the Home Page of the BCW: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/
and in all the pages of Cantata Recordings & Discussions. Gradually you will be able to see it in other pages of the BCW.

BCW: English Translations in Parallel Format

Aryeh Oron wrote (September 2, 2012):
I am glad to inform you that I have finished creating Parallel Format pages of all (but 1) Francis Browne's English Interlinear translations of Bach's vocal works.
See: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Texts/IndexTexts-Eng3-BWV.htm
The Interlinear and Parallel pages of each work are, of course, inter-linked.
Please notice that when the Interlinear version includes Note on the text, it is mentioned in the 4th column of the Index page above as well as in the corresponding Parallel page.

Francis Browne's translations in their interlinear format are extremely popular among performers and lovers of Bach's vocal works. They are also used in programme notes, liner notes, etc. We hope that the availability of these translation in parallel format would make them even more useful.

Any comments would be most welcome.

BCW: Bach-inspired Piano Works by Sofia Gubaidulina

Aryeh Oron wrote (October 8, 2012):
The remarkable Russian composer, Sofia Gubaidulina, composed three Bach-inspired piano works: Ciaconna (Chaconne), inspired by the Chaconne from Partita for solo violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004 (1962); Toccata-Troncata (1971); and Invention (1974). I have just created Discography page on the BCW with all know recordings of these works.
See: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/NVD/PT-Gubaidulina-S-Rec.htm
Linked from: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/NVD/PT.htm
and from other pages.
Any additions/corrections/updates would be most welcome.

BCW: Goldberg Variations Discography once again

Aryeh Oron wrote (October 23, 2012):
Only half a year ago I had revised and updated the discography pages of the Goldberg Variations BWV 988 on the BCW, and I found myself having to update them once again. Almost 50 new recordings have been added since the last revision, most of them are naturally from the current decade, but there are also many discoveries from previous decades. The discography presents now 549 different recordings (every recordings is presented only once, including all its relea) of this Bach's most recorded solo keyboard work.
See the discography page of the current decade:
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/NVD/BWV988-Rec2010.htm
This page has inter-links to the pages of previous decades.
If you have any correction, addition, etc., please inform me.

BCW: 9,000 Musician Bios!

Aryeh Oron wrote (October 28, 2012):
The BCW contains short biographies of performers of Bach's vocal works and his keyboard & lute works:
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/index.htm
as well as of poets & composers associated with Bach:
http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Lib/index.htm
This collection of musician bios has just crossed the number 9,000. I believe this is one of the biggest collections of its kind over the web.
If you want to contribute a missing bio, or if you have any correction/addition, please contact me.

Douglas Cowling wrote (October 28, 2012):
Aryeh Oron wrote:
< This collection of musician bios has just crossed the number 9,000. >
Bravo!

BCW: Matthהus-Passion Discography

Aryeh Oron wrote (November 8, 2012):
In church music, Passion is a term for sung musical settings of the Gospel texts covering the Passion of Jesus, the events leading up to the Crucifixion of Jesus, and emphasising his suffering. Matthäus-Passion by J.S. Bach is definitely the most popular musical setting depicting the Passion story, and is considered by many as the most sublime musical work ever composed.

The discography pages of the Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 have been revised and updated. Over 40 new recordings have been added since the last revision over a year ago. The discography presents now 248 different recordings (every recordings is presented only once, including all its releases). The discography is aimed to be comprehensive. Therefore it includes not only all officially released recordings, but also many privately released and unofficial recordings.

The discography is arranged chronologically, a page per a decade, starting at: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Vocal/BWV244-Rec1.htm
This page has inter-links to the pages of following decades.

You can notice that some recordings are presented with missing details. I am also quite certain that there are recordings of which I am not aware. Therefore, if you have any correction, addition, etc., please do not hesitate to inform me.

BCW: Cantata Discographies

Aryeh Oron wrote (November 13, 2012):
The discgoraphies of all the Bach Cantatas have been updated.
The Index to the cantata discography pages: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/IndexBWV.htm
Since the discographies are aimed to be comprehensive, they include not only all officially released recordings, but also many privately released and unofficial recordings

The most recorded of them all is this week Cantata BWV 82 Ich habe genug with 101 complete recordings: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/BWV82.htm
The second most recorded is Cantata BWV 51 Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen! with 86 complete recordings: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/BWV51.htm
Both are solo cantatas.

Of the chorale cantatas, the most recorded is BWV 140 Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme with 68 complete recordings: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/BWV140.htm
Next comes Cantata BWV 4 with 62 complete recordings: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/BWV4.htm

If you have any correction, addition, etc., please inform me.

Julian Mincham wrote (November 13, 2012):
[To Aryeh Oron] Aryeh is there any convenient list of complete (or nearly completed) sets of the cantatas? Or of what major directors have produced to date? It would not be a long one--but would probably list Koopman, Luesink for a start with Harnoncourt complete of the church cantatas only.Just what people like Rilling have produced for example, would be useful to see at a glance

Aryeh Oron wrote (November 13, 2012):
[To Julian Mincham] See: http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Performers/Recordings-Table.htm
I have to add the recent volumes of Suzuki & Herreweghe.

Julian Mincham wrote (November 13, 2012):
[To Aryeh Oron] Many thanks Aryeh--I had missed that page!

William L. Hoffman wrote (November 14, 2012):
[To Julian Mincham] See BCW, http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Performers/Recordings-Table-Remark.htm
Table of Cantata Recordings by Major Conductors (sets with volume numbers)

Ed Myskowski wrote (November 14, 2012):
[To William L. Hoffman] This seems like an appropriate spot to reiterate my opinion that the BCW archives function as an annotated discography, unlike any other for detail and thoroughness. Thanks to Aryeh for his ongoing efforts, and to all contributors.

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