Track Listing

1. Cantata No. 170, 'Vergn�gte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust,' BWV 170 (BC A106): "Vergnugte Ruh', beliebte Seelenlust", Aria for alto
2. Cantata No. 170, 'Vergn�gte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust,' BWV 170 (BC A106): "Die Welt, das Sundenhaus, bricht nur im Hollenlieder aus",
3. Cantata No. 170, 'Vergn�gte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust,' BWV 170 (BC A106): "Wie jammern nich doch die verkehrten Herzen", Aria for alt
4. Cantata No. 170, 'Vergn�gte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust,' BWV 170 (BC A106): "Wer sollte sich demnach wohl hier zu leben wunschen", Reci
5. Cantata No. 170, 'Vergn�gte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust,' BWV 170 (BC A106): "Mir ekelt, mehr zu leben", Aria for alto
6. Cantata No. 54, 'Widerstehe doch der S�nde,' BWV 54 (BC A51): "Widerstehe doch der Sunde", Aria for alto
7. Cantata No. 54, 'Widerstehe doch der S�nde,' BWV 54 (BC A51): "Die Ar verruchter Sunden ist zwar von aussen wunderschon", Recitative
8. Cantata No. 54, 'Widerstehe doch der S�nde,' BWV 54 (BC A51): "Wer Sunde tut, der ist vom Teufel", Aria for alto
9. Cantata No. 35, 'Geist und Seele wird verwirret,' BWV 35 (BC A125): Sinfonia in D minor
10. Cantata No. 35, 'Geist und Seele wird verwirret,' BWV 35 (BC A125): "Geist und Seele wird verwirret", Aria for alto
11. Cantata No. 35, 'Geist und Seele wird verwirret,' BWV 35 (BC A125): "Ich wundre mich den Alles, was man sieht", Recitative for alto
12. Cantata No. 35, 'Geist und Seele wird verwirret,' BWV 35 (BC A125): "Gott, hat Alles wohl gemacht", Aria for alto
13. Cantata No. 35, 'Geist und Seele wird verwirret,' BWV 35 (BC A125): Sinfonia in D minor
14. Cantata No. 35, 'Geist und Seele wird verwirret,' BWV 35 (BC A125): "Ach, starker Gott, lass mich doch dieses stets bedenken", Recita
15. Cantata No. 35, 'Geist und Seele wird verwirret,' BWV 35 (BC A125): "Ich wunsche mir, bei Gott zu leben", Aria for alto

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22242 in Music
• Released on: 1998-04-14
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Customer Reviews

a voice teacher and early music fan
SCHOLL SINGING IN HIS NATIVE LANGUAGE: SUPERB!

Three of Bach's four cantatas for solo alto were written within the period of a few months in the year, 1726. It is surmised by musicologists that they were written for a specific singer, for they are very difficult, and not easily sung by the moderately skilled personage. There are strenuous technical demands on the vocal and expressive qualities of the singer, who must be an accomplished coloratura capable of expressive cantible singing as well as possessing accurate intonation. A female or a castrato voice were out of the question, but a high falsetto was not.

German theological tradition reaching far back into the 17th century endowed each of the 4 human voice types with symbolic connotation. The theologian Theodor Schneider writes:"The bass is appointed/that was the belief/to be seen by Jesus/who is the basis and foundation of our salvation; you Descants/trebles,sopranos/soar on high/and thus/let your prayer penetrate the clouds/and do not erase/until you reach the Almighty Trinity;see/they open up the roof on high and set poor man down before the feet of the Lord Jesus;the Holy Ghost himself bore the Alto(s) and caused them/if not with their mouths/ yet with their hearts to cry: Jesus/ you Son of David/have mercy on us!" The alto was accorded the voice of the Holy Ghost. All three of these cantatas are very attractive and quite interesting.

I especially liked the first one, although all three were very well performed by Andreas Scholl. He is in his element when he sings in his native language. The translated title of these cantatas are: BWV170 "Contented Rest, BWV54 "Pray resist all sin"; BWV35 "Mind and spirit are bewildered".

Cantatas for Solo Alto
The quality & quantity of Bach's output is remarkable. This wonderful recording reveals another dimension to the master that no Bach enthusiast should miss. Including pulsating & unusual chord inversions in parts & as always so rich in melodic lines. From the tranquility of Cantata 170 to the mischievous Cantata 54, this music is highly evocative & is so well played & recorded.
Very best compliments to Scholl & Herreweghe.

Sublime Scholl
Andreas Scholl has a sublime voice and suberb technique. I had tried to purchase this CD through local record stores in NYC for a year and it was unavailable. I am delighted that I was able to get hold of the CD through Amazon and at such a reasonable price.