• Tracks

Import Hybrid-SACD pressing. Bach: Cantatas BWV 177, 93, & 135 (2006) Christoph Genz (tenor), Jan Van der Crabben (baritone), La Petite Bande, Petra Noskaiova (alto), Siri Karoline Thornhill (soprano). It's not that Bach wrote the same cantata several hundred times. Each and every cantata is scored for a unique ensemble, has a unique sequence of movements, sets a different text to a different chorale melody, and explores different musical and spiritual issues. It's that we, in our musical and spiritual puniness, can't begin to comprehend the height, the breadth, and the depth of Bach's achievement. Designed to be heard only once a week on Sunday, Bach's cantatas are still best appreciated one at a time. Take this disc by Sigiswald Kuijken leading La Petite Bande. One of their 20-disc survey of cantatas for the complete liturgical year, the disc contains three extraordinary works for the fourth, fifth, and sixth Sundays after Trinity: Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ (I call to you, Lord Jesus Christ) in G minor; Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten (Who leaves the loving God to guide him) in C minor; and Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder (Oh, Lord, I am a poor Sinner) in D minor.