Cantata BWV 208
Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd!

Ref.:

BWV 208; BC G 1 [Version 1]; BC G 3 [Version 2]

German Title:

Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd!

English Title:

The merry hunt is all that I love! (by Richard Stokes)

Event:

Hunt Cantata

Composed:

Weimar, probably 1713
1^st performance: February 21-22, 1713 - Weißenfels, for the birthday of Duke Christian of Sachsen-Weißenfels
2^nd performance: Februay 23, 1716 - Weimar (?), for the birthday of Duke August of Weimar
3^rd performance: 1742 - Leipzig, for the nameday of the Saxon elector, Friedrich August II

Text:

Salomo Franck

BWV 208 Text: German-1 | German-2 | German-6 (1) | German-6 (2) | German-7 (1) | German-7 (2)
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-10
Catalan-1 | Chinese-2 | Dutch-0 | French-4 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Polish-1 | Spanish-2 | Spanish-7

Scoring:

Soloists: Two Sopranos, Tenor, Bass; The soloists forming the Chorus
Orchestra: 3 hunting horns, 2 oboes, bassoon, 2 recorders, strings, cello in the continuo
Mvt. 1: Recitative | Mvt. 2: Aria | Mvt. 3: Recitative | Mvt. 4: Aria | Mvt. 5: Recitative | Mvt. 6: Recitative | Mvt. 7: Aria | Mvt. 8: Recitative | Mvt. 9: Aria | Mvt. 10: Recitative | Mvt. 11: Chorus | Mvt. 12: Aria (Duet) | Mvt. 13: Aria | Mvt. 14: Aria | Mvt. 15: Chorus

Scores:

BWV 208 Scores: Score BGA [3.50 MB]
Autograph Score (Facsimile): D-B Mus. ms. Bach P 42, Faszikel 3 [Bach Digital]
Capella: Mvt. 1 | Mvt. 2 | Mvt. 3 | Mvt. 4 | Mvt. 5 | Mvt. 6 | Mvt. 7 | Mvt. 8 | Mvt. 9 | Mvt. 10 | Mvt. 11 | Mvt. 12 | Mvt. 13 | Mvt. 14 | Mvt. 15 | BWV 1040 [cap]

References:

BWV 208=BWV 208.1, 208.2 References: BGA: XXIX | NBA: I/35 | BC: G 1, 3 | Zwang: W 1 | First Published: BG, 1881 | Autograph score (fascimile): Berlin, Staatsbibliothek | Bach Digital (Version 1) | Bach Digital (Version 2)

Commentaries:

BWV 208 Commentaries: English: Crouch | All Music | Mincham | Bachipedia
Nielsen [Danish] | EvH [Dutch] | Reyes [Spanish]

Music:

Music Examples

Discussions:

Week of December 10, 2000; Week of February 13, 2005; Week of September 1, 2013; Week of June 10, 2018

Contents

Discography

Discussions

Discussions - Part 1 (1^st round)
Discussions - Part 2 (2^nd round)
Discussions - Part 3 =
Discussions - Part 4 (3^rd round)
Discussions - Part 5 (4^th round)

Bach Hits Back - by Swingle Singers
W. Walton: The Wise Virgins, suite from the ballet (arranged music of J.S. Bach)

Discography - Part 1

Complete Recordings

1

J.S. Bach: Cantata Nr. 208 [LP]
J.S. Bach - Telemann etc.: Cantatas [CD] [C-2]
Baroque - J.S. Bach, Telemann: Cantatas [C-3]

Cantata BWV 208 [35:14]

Karl Forster

Members of the Chor der St. Hedwigs-Kathedrale Berlin / Berliner Philharmoniker

Soprano I [Diana]: Annelies Kupper; Soprano II [Pales]: Erika Köth; Tenor [Endymion]: Fritz Wunderlich; Baritone [Pan]: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Siegfried Borries (Violin); Linde Hoffer Von Winterfield, Jeannette Chemin-Petit (Recorder); André Lardrot, Heinrich Karcher (Oboes); Arnold Kummer (English Horn); Günter Schofisch, Siegfried Kruger (Horns); Hans Muller (Bassoon); Gerhard Stenzel (Violoncelle Continuo); Walter Thoene (Harpsichord)

Odeon 70475
EMI Classics

Nov 10-12 + 18-19, 1961

LP / TT:
2-CD / TT:
CD/ TT:

Recorded at Gemeindhaus, Berlin, Germany.
Buy this album at:
2-CD: Amazon.com | Amazon.com

2

J.S. Bach: Cantata BWV 208 [L-8]
J.S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 206 & 208 [C-4]

Cantata BWV 208 [34:40]

André Rieu

Monteverdi-Chor Hamburg (Chorus Master: Jürgen Jürgens) / Amsterdam Chamber Orchestra

Soprano I [Diana]: Erna Spoorenberg; Soprano II [Pales]: Irmgard Jacobeit; Tenor [Endymion]: Tom Brand; Bass [Pan]: Jacques Villisech
Gustav Leonhardt (Harpsichord)

Telefunken SAWT-9427
Teldec

Oct 21-27, 1962

LP / TT: 34:40
CD / TT: 76:42

Recorded in Amsterdam, the Nethelands.
Listen on YouTube:
Cantata BWV 208: Complete Cantata [34:52].
Buy this album at:
CD: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de

3

J.S. Bach: Jagdkantate BWV 208 · Oboenkonzert nach BWV 1053 [ES-4]

Helmuth Rilling

Figuralchor der Gedächtniskirche Stuttgart / Bach-Collegium Stuttgart

Soprano I [Diana]: Helen Donath; Soprano II [Pales]: Elisabeth Speiser; Tenor [Endymion]: Wilfried Jochims; Bass [Pan]: Jakob Stämpfli

Cantate-Musicaphon

May 1965

TT: 38:45

Recorded at Südwest-Tonstudio H. Jansen, Stuttgart, Germany.
1^st recording of Cantata BWV 208 by H. Rilling. 
Buy this album at: Amazon.de

4

Bach made in Germany Vol. VII - Secular Cantatas IV
Bach Edition Vol. 7 - Secular Cantatas
Bach: Kantaten BWV 208 [L-1]

Cantata BWV 208 [35:40]

Peter Schreier

Berliner Solisten (Chorus Master: Dietrich Knothe) / Kammerorchester Berlin

Soprano I [Diana]: Edith Mathis; Soprano II [Pales]: Arleen Augér; Tenor [Endymion]: Peter Schreier; Bass [Pan]: Theo Adam

Eterna 827029
Brilliant Classics / Leipzig Classics

Oct 9, 10, 13, 14, Nov 5-9, 1976

LP / TT: 35:40
CD / TT: 69:48

Recorded at Christuskirche, Berlin, Germany.
Recording Producer: Bernd Runge; Recording Engineer: Eberhard Richter.
Buy this album at:  
CD: Amazon.com

5

Bach: The Hunt Cantata [C-1]

Roy Goodman

The Parley of Instruments

Emma Kirkby & Jennifer Smith; Tenor - Simon Davies; Bass - Michael George

Hyperion

Feb 1985

TT: 43:23

Buy this album at: 
CD: Amazon.com | Amazon.com

6

J.S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 208 "Jagdkantate" & BWV 212 "Bauernkantate" [L-1]
Bach-2000 Vol. 5 - Secular Cantatas [L-1]

Cantata BWV 208 [33:31]

Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Arnold Schoenberg Chor (Chorus Master: Erwin Ortner) / Concentus Musicus Wien

Soprano I [Diana]: Yvonne Kenny; Soprano II [Pales]: Angela Maria Blasi; Tenor [Endymion]: Kurt Equiluz; Bass [Pan]: Robert Holl

Teldec

May 1988

CD / TT: 64:10
11-CD / TT:

Recorded at Casino Zögernitz, Vienna, Austria.
Listen on YouTube:
Cantata BWV 208: Complete Cantata [33:28]
Buy this album at:  
CD: Amazon.com

7

J.S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 51 & BWV 208 [C-3]

Cantata BWV 208 [31:32]

Mátyás Antál

Hungarian Radio Chorus / Failoni Chamber Orchestra

Soprano I [Diana]: Ingrid Kertesi; Soprano II [Pales]: Julia Paszthy; Alto: Judit Németh; Tenor [Endymion]: Jozsef Mukk; Bass [Pan]: István Gáti

Naxos 8.550643

Jan (?) 1992

CD / TT: 49:57

Recorded at Festetitch Castle, Budapest, Hungary.
Buy this album at:
CD: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Music Download: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | ClassicsOnline

8

J.S. Bach: Complete Cantatas Vol. 3

Cantata BWV 208 [33:34]

Ton Koopman

Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir

Soprano I [Diana]: Barbara Schlick; Soprano II [Pales]: Elisabeth von Magnus; Tenor [Endymion]: Paul Agnew; Bass [Pan]: Klaus Mertens
ABO Soloists: Marcel Ponseele (Oboe & Oboe d'amore); Michel Henry (Oboe d'amore); Margaret Faultless (Violin); Foskien Kooistra (Violin); Jaap ter Linden (Cello); Nicholas Pap (Violone); Jonathan Impett (Corno do tirarsi); Ton Koopman (Harpsichord)
ABO: Violins: Margaret Faultless [Leader]; Barbara Kiebel, Nicola Cleminsan, Marc Cooper, Foskien Kooistra, Carlo Marolla, Tjamke Roelofs, Sebastiaan van Vucht; Violas: Martin Kelly, Marina Ascherson; Cellos: Jaap ter Linden, Jonathan Manson; Violone & Double-bass: Nicholas Pap; Oboes & Oboes d'amore: Marcel Ponseele, Michel Henry; Oboe: Ann Vanlancker; Recorders: Marion Verbruggen, Reine Marie Verhagen; Horns: Sue Dent, Francois Mérand; Corno da tirarsi: Jonathan Impett; Trombones: Sue Addison, Ole-Krislian Andersen, Henning Plumeyer; Cornett: Gebhardt David; Trumpets: Stephen Keavy, Jonathan Impett, James Ghigi, Robert Vanryne; Timpani: Luuk Nagtegaal; Bassoon: Margreet Bongers; Ton Koopman (Harpsichord)

Erato 0630-14336-2
Antoine Marchand CC-72203
=

Sep 1995

3-CD / TT: 195:24
3-CD / TT: 195:24
MP3 / TT: 193:13

Recorded at WaalKerk, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Producer: Tini Mathot; Sound Engineer: Adriaan Verstijnen; Editing: Adriaan Verstijnen.
Listen on YouTube:
Cantata BWV 208: Complete Cantata [33:34]
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 | ArkivMusic
Music Download: Amazon.com | ClassicsOnline | iTunes

9

Concertos & Cantata [C-3]

Cantata BWV 208 [35:46]

Ludwig Güttler

Hallenser Madrigalisten (Chorus Master: Andreas Göpfert) / Virtuosi Saxoniae

Soprano II [Diana]: Mona Spägele; Soprano II [Pales]: Claudia Kunz; Tenor [Endymion]: Robert Wörle; Bass [Pan]: Roman Trekel

Dresden Classics

Jan-Feb 1996

CD / TT:

Recorded at Lukaskirche, Dresden, Germany.
Listen on YouTube:
Cantata BWV 208:  Complete Cantata [35:37]:

10

Edition Bachakademie Vol. 65 - Secular Cantatas

Helmuth Rilling

Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart / Bach-Collegium Stuttgart

Soprano I [Diana]: Sibylla Rubens; Soprano II [Pales]: Eva Kirchner; Tenor [Endymion]: James Taylor, Baritone [Pan]: Matthias Goerne

Hänssler

Sep 1996

TT: 36:59

Recorded at Stadthalle Leonberg, Germany.
2^nd recording of Cantata BWV 208 by H. Rilling. 
Buy this album at:  
CD: Amazon.com

11

Bach: Secular Cantatas BWV 208, BWV 215 [L-6]

Gustav Leonhardt

Choir & Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Soprano I [Diana]: Monika Frimmer; Soprano II [Pales]: Lynne Dawson; Tenor [Endymion]: John Elwes; Bass [Pan]: David Wilson-Johnson

Philips

Nov 1996

TT: 33:28

Recorded at Henry Wood Hall, London, England.

12

J.S. Bach: Secular Cantatas Vol. 2 (BWV 208, 134a)

Cantata BWV 208 [34:52]

Masaaki Suzuki

Bach Collegium Japan

soprano I [Diana]: Sophie Junker, Soprano II [Pales]: Joanne Lunn; Tenor [Endymion]: Makoto Sakurada; Baritone [Pan]: Roderick Williams
Orchestra: Corno da caccia I: Jean-François Madeuf; Corno da caccia II: Jérôme Princé; Recorder I: Shigeharu Yamaoka; Recorder II: Akimasa Mukae; Oboe I: Masamitsu San'nomiya; Oboe II: Ayaka Mori [BWV 208]; Oboe III & Taille*/Oboe II**: Atsuko Ozaki [BWV 208*/134a**]; Bassoon: Yukiko Murakami; Violins 1: Natsumi Wakamatsu [Leader], Paul Herrera, Yuko Takeshima; Violins 2: Azumi Takada, Yuko Araki, Yukie Yamaguchi; Violas: Hiroshi Narita, Mina Fukazawa
Continuo: Violoncello: Hidemi Suzuki; Violone: Takashi Konno; Harpsichord: Masaaki Suzuki, Masato Suzuki

BIS SACD-1971
=

Jul 2011

SACD / TT: 74:40
MP3 / TT: 73:17

Recorded at the MS&AD Shirakawa Hall, Nagoya, Japan.
Tuner: Akimi Hayashi; Producer: Andreas Ruge; Sound Engineer: Matthias Spitzbarth; Post-production: Editing: Andreas Ruge; Mixing: Matthias Spitzbarth; Executive Producer: Robert von Bahr.
Buy this album at:
SACD (2012): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de | ArkivMusic
SACD (2012): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Music Download: iTunes

13

J.S. Bach: Kantate 208 "Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd" [D13-9]
Bach-Kantaten-Edition der Bach-Stiftung St. Gallen: Bach erlebt XIII - Das Bach-Jahr 2019 [DB-13]
Bach-Kantaten N°32 (BWV 208, 212)

Cantata BWV 208 (Hunt Cantata) [CD: 32:02; YT: 36:15]

Musical director & conductor: Rudolf Lutz
Workshop: Rudolf Lutz, Karl Schmuki
Reflection lecture: Leonhard Horowski

(OVPP - No Choir) / Orchester der J.S. Bach-Stiftung

Soloists: Sopranos: Johannette Zomer, Marie Luise Werneburg; Tenor: Raphael Höhn; Bass: Peter Kooy (Kooji)
Orchestra: Violins: Renate Steinmann, Monika Baer; Viola: Susanna Hefti; Violoncellos: Martin Zeller, Daniel Rosin; Violone: Markus Bernhard; Horns: Olivier Picon, Thomas Müller; Recorders: Annina Stahlberger, Teresa Hackel; Oboe: Andreas Helm, Kerstin Kramp, Katharina Arfken; Taille: Katharina Arfken; Bassoon: Susann Landert; Lute: Julian Behr; Harpsichord: Rudolf Lutz

J.S. Bach-Stiftung St. Gallen
J.S. Bach-Stiftung St. Gallen
J.S. Bach-Stiftung St. Gallen B885

Oct 25, 2019

DVD / TT:
11-DVD / TT:
CD / TT: 60:40

Recorded & filmed live at Fürstenlandsaal, Gossau, Kanton St. Gallen, Switzerland, in the frame of J.S. Bach-Stiftung, St. Gallen: Cantata Series.
Recording & editing: Sound Engineers: Stefan Ritzenthaler, Nikolaus Matthes; Director: Meinrad Keel; Production Manager: Johannes Widmer; Production: Gallus Media AG, Switzerland; Producer: J.S. Bach-Stiftung St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Watch on YouTube:
Cantata BWV 208: Complete Cantata [36:15] | Workshop [44:31] | Reflective Lecture [27:32] | Bonus Material [9:30]
Buy this album at:
11-DVD (2020): J.S. Bach-Stiftung, St. Gallen: Shop
CD (2020): J.S. Bach-Stiftung St. Gallen: Shop | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de

14

Hunting With Bach (ARTEK performs Bach: Cantata 208, Hunting Cantata) [CV-2]

00:00-35:49: Cantata BWV 208 (Hunting Cantata) [35:49]

Director: Gwendolyn Toth

ARTEK

Soprano [Diana]: Laura Heimes; Soprano [Pales]: Clara Rottsolk; Tenor [Endymion]: Andrew Fuchs; Bass [Pan]: Peter Becker
Vita Wallace (Violin); Marka Young (Violin); David Miller (Viola); Ezra Seltzer (Cello); Jessica Powell Eig (Violone); Geoffrey Burgess (Oboe & Recorder); Kristin Olson (Oboe & Recorder); Julie Brye (Oboe & Oboe da caccia); Joseph Jones (Bassoon); Sara Cyrus (Corno da caccia); Alexandra Cook (Corno da caccia); John Lenti (Theorbo); Gwendolyn Toth (Harpsichord)

YouTube

Feb 27, 2020

Video / TT: 37:24

Recorded & filmed live at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, New York City, New York, USA.
Watch on YouTube:
Cantata BWV 208: Complete Cantata [37:24]

The list of recordings was compiled by Aryeh Oron (December 2000 - July 2024)
Thanks to contributors: John Carroll (August 2009); Matthias Hansen (August 2006, April 2020); Poul Anders Lyngberg-Larsen (October 2008); Teri Noel Towe (April 2007)

Cantata BWV 208: Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd! for Birthday [Hunt Cantata, Secular cantata] (1713)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements: 1900-1949 | 1950-1959 | 1960-1969 | 1970-1979 | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2020-2029
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5