Cantata BWV 4
Christ lag in Todes Banden
Discography - Part 2

Complete Recordings 1950-1959

< Complete Recordings 1900-1949

Complete Recordings 1960-1969 >

1

J.S. Bach: Matthäus-Passion [V-5]
J.S. Bach: Cantata 4, Christ lag in Todesbanden, and Cantata 78, Jesu der du meine Seele [CS-1]
J.S. Bach: Kantaten Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4; Schwingt freudig euch empor, BWV 36; Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild, BWV 79 [P-1]

Cantata BWV 4 [25:34 / 25:15]

Günther Ramin

Thomanerchor Leipzig / Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

No soloists; all parts are sung by the choir; Organ: Ekkehart Tietze

Archipel 278
Schola Antiqua GR-1
Pilz History 78006

Feb 24, 1950

3-CD / TT:
CD / TT: 50:54
CD / TT: 73:23

Recorded at Thomaskirche, Leipzig, Germany.
The cantata is NOT listed on the Archipel album cover or back, nor on the third CD itself. It's only when you get to the last page of the brief insert that it's listed.
Buy this album at:
Archipel 3-CD: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Archipel Music Download: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
CD: Schola Antiqua

2

J.S. Bach: "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern", Cantata BWV 1; "Christ lag in Todesbanden", Cantata BWV 4 (IX. Research Period, Series A, Works of Johann Sebastian Bach) [D-5]
J.S. Bach: "Christ Lag In Todesbanden, BWV 4; "Tritt Auf Die Glaubensbahn", BWV 152 [D-6]
J.S. Bach: Christ lag in Todesbanden (Cantata No. 4) [C-2]
J.S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 4 · 56 · 82 [E-3]
Archiv Produktion 1947-2013 - A Celebration of Artistic Excellence From the Home of Early Music [E-4]
J.S. Bach: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, Cantata BWV 1; Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4 [F-1]
Bach: Cantates, BWV 4 & 152 (Mono Version) [G-3]
J.S. Bach: Nine Sacred Cantatas (BWV 1, 4, 19, 21, 39, 79, 105, 170, 189) [B-1]

Cantata BWV 4 [24:10 / 25:23 / 25:15 / 25:31 / 25:04; 3-CD: 25:21]

Fritz Lehmann

Chor der Staatlichen Hochschule fur Musik Frankfurt am Main (Frankfurt State School of Music Chorus) / Orchester des Bachfestes (Göttingen Bach Festival Orchestra)

Tenor: Helmut Krebs; Bass: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Maria Jung (Organ)

Archiv Produktion APM-14079
Archive Production ARC-3063
Archiv Produktion APM-14046
American Decca DL-7253
Archiv Produktion 449756
=
Archiv Produktion 4791045
Discover Classical Music
BNF Collection
Deutsche Grammophon Eloquence ELQ-4827642
=

Jul 31-Aug 2, 1950

LP / TT: 49:19
LP / TT: 49:19
LP / TT: 42:29
10" / TT: 25:23
CD / TT: 67:49
MP3 / TT: 67:34
55-CD / TT: 11:28:55
MP3 / TT: 50:04
MP3 / TT: 43:30
3-CD / TT: 166:38
MP3 / TT: 225:31

Recorded at Johanniskirche, Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany.
Listen on YouTube:
Cantata BWV 4: Complete Cantata [25:37] | Complete Cantata [25:23] | Cantatas BWV 56, BWV 82, BWV 4 [69:32] | Mvt. 3: Duet [S, A] [7:18] | Mvt. 4: Aria [T] [2:26]
Buy this album at:
DGG CD (1997): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
DGG Music Download: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
55-CD (2013): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Discover Download: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
BNF Music Download (2014): Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de | iTunes
DGG Eloquence 3-CD (2018): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Music Download: iTunes

3

J.S. Bach: Four Cantatas (BWV 4, 34, 50, 104) [C-1]

Cantata BWV 4 []

Klaus Liepmann

MIT Choral Society / MIT Symphony Orchestra

Bass: Paul Matthen; Other soloists unknown

Columbia

Apr 27, 1951

LP / TT:

Recorded at Walker Memorial Hall, MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

4

Bach: Kantate nr. 140; Kantate nr. 4 [L-3]
J.S. Bach: Easter Oratorio / Cantata No. 4 [C-1]
J.S. Bach: Cantatas 182, 4 & 150 [C-9]

Cantata BWV 4 [23:10]

Felix Prohaska

Wiener Kammerchor (Vienna Chamber Choir) / Wiener Kammerochester
Choir & Orchestra of the Bach Guild

Soprano: Anny Felbermayer; Tenor: Fritz Uhl *; Baritone: Hans Braun

Bach Guild BG-511 (1951)
MMS-2180
Vanguard Classics OVC-2542
Baroque Music Club BACH-724

1951

LP / TT: 53:18
LP / TT: 53:18
CD / TT: 64:01
CD / TT: 70:08

Recorded in Vienna, Austria.
1^st recording of Cantata BWV 4 by F. Prohaska.
In an earlier printing of Baroque Music Club BACH-724 the recording on the CD was by W. Ehmann.
* In the liner notes to the CD it is written that the tenor singer is Alfred Uhl, who was a composer and pedagogue and not a tenor singer.
Listen on YouTube:
Cantata BWV 4: Complete Cantata [21:15] | Complete Cantata [21:15]
Buy this album at:
4-CD: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de

5

The RIAS Bach Cantatas Project (1949-1952) [C-5]

Cantata BWV 4 [17:57]

Karl Ristenpart

RIAS-Kammerchor, RIAS-Knabenchor / RIAS-Kammerorchester

-

Audite 21.415

Mar 17-19, 1952

9-CD / TT: 631:06
MP3 / TT: 629:09

Recorded at the Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin-Dahlem, Germany. Radio recordings. Previously unissued in any form.
Produser Comment | Press Kit German | Press Kit English
Buy this album at:
9-CD (2012): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Music Download: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de

6

Festival of Song [C-1]

Cantata Christ Lays in Death's Dark Prison, BWV 4, sung in English []

Herbert Huffman

Columbus Boychoir & Male Chorus / String Quintet

Solo parts are sung by the choir
Estey Organ used

Decca ‎ED-831
Decca Records DL-8106
Columbia CCL-35038

c1954

3 × 7" EP, 45 rpm
LP / TT:
LP / TT:

Recorded at American Decca studios, Pythian Temple, New York City, New York, USA (?).

7

J.S. Bach Motet No. 3 Jesus, dearest master (Jesu, meine Freude); Cantata No. 4 Christ lay in the bonds of death (Christ lag in Todesbanden) [C-6]

Cantata BWV 4 [26:16]

Robert Shaw

Robert Shaw Chorale / RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra

Counter-tenor: Russell Oberlin; Other unknown vocal soloists (one source says the the cantata is sung by the choir, with no soloists)

RCA Victor LSC/LM-2273

May 24, 1957

LP / TT: 51:00

Recorded at Manhattan Center, New York City, New York, USA.
2^nd recording of Cantata BWV 4 by R. Shaw.

8

Radio Recording - Archiv-Nr: U0-03352 [R-36]

Cantata BWV 4 [22:45]

Max Thurn

Members of NDR-Chor / Members of Hamburger Rundfunkorchester

Soprano: Barbara Groth; Alto: Margrit Franke; Tenor: Wilhelm Kaiser; Bass: Erich Wenk
Adolf Scherbaum (Trumpet); Putzke, Kurt (Trombone)
Basso continuo: Kurt Pickert (Organ); Wolfram Hentschel (Violoncello); Gerhard Ullrich (Double-bass)

Norddeutsche Rundfunk in Hamburg

Mar 6-7, 1958

Tape / TT:

Recorded in Hamburg, Germany.
Listen on YouTube:
Cantata BWV 4: Complete Cantata [22:29]

9

J.S. Bach: Schulproduktion Musik/ 67, Christ lag in Todesbanden: Kantate BWV 4 [E-3]
J.S. Bach: Herr Jesu Christ, wahr'r Mensch und Gott, Kantate Nr. 127; Christ lag in Todesbanden, Kantate Nr. 4 [E-3]
J.S. Bach: Sonaten und Kantaten [E-3]

Cantata BWV 4 [23:59]

Karl Richter

Münchener Bach-Chor / Mitglieder des Orchesters der Münchener Staatoper (actually Bayerisches Staatsorchester)

Bass: Kieth Engen; Organ: Hedwig Bilgram

Telefunken 49052
Decca BLK-16112 [LPD-04272-XV, Side2 LPD-04273-X]
Teldec 0830-11427-2

Apr 1958

LP / TT:
LP / TT: 47:30
CD / TT: 65:40

Recorded at Haus des Sports, Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
1^st recording of Cantata BWV 4 by Karl Richter.
Listen on YouTube: Cantata BWV 4: Complete Cantata [23:34]
Buy this album at:
CD (1995): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de

10

J.S. Bach: Cantata No. 140; Cantata No. 4 [L-10]
J.S. Bach: Famous Cantatas [C-8]

Cantata BWV 4 [21:15]

Felix Prohaska

Wiener Akademiechor (Vienna State Chamber Choir) / Wiener Kammerochester (Vienna State Opera Orchestra)

Soprano: Laurence Dutoit; Tenor: Kurt Equiluz; Bass: Hans Braun; Anton Heiller (continuo); Jurg Schaeftlein (oboe)

Bach Guild BG-598 (1960)
Bach Guild BGS-5026 (1960)
Vanguard SRV-152 (1965)
Bach Guild HM-20SD (1972)
Bach Guild OVC-2001 (1992)
Vanguard 08.6108.71

May 13, 19, 21, 1959

LP / TT: 48:26
LP / TT: 48:26
LP / TT: 48:26
LP / TT: 48:26
CD / TT: 48:26
CD / TT: 48:26

Recorded at Großesaal Konzerthaus, Vienna, Austria.
2^nd recording of Cantata BWV 4 by F. Prohaska.
Listen on YouTube:
Cantata BWV 4: Complete Cantata [21:18]
Buy this album at:
CD: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de

11

Bach: Kantaten · Cantatas BWV 4, BWV 11, BWV 68 [C-1]
Bach Made in Germany Vol. 2 - Cantatas I (BWV 4, 11, 68)
J.S. Bach: Kantaten BWV 4, BWV 54, BWV 59 (LP) [L-2]

Cantata BWV 4 [21:32]

Kurt Thomas

Thomanerchor Leipzig / Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

Soprano: Agnes Giebel; Alto: Marga Höffgen; Tenor: Hans-Joachim Rotzsch; Bass: Theo Adam
Karl Suske (Violin); Helmut Weimann (Violoncello); Konrad Siebach (Double-bass); Hannes Kästner (Organ)

Berlin Classics 009201-2BC
=
Leipzig Classics 001813-2BC
Eterna 820162
EMI C047-28587
Electrola STE-80573
HMV CSD-1589, CLP-1842
Dacapo 1C-047-28587

Jun 1-5, 1959

CD / TT: 74:03
MP3 / TT: 73:48
CD / TT: 74:03
LP / TT: 47:55
LP / TT: 47:55
LP / TT: 47:55
LP / TT: 47:55
LP / TT: 47:55

Recorded at Thomaskirche, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany.
Recording Producer: Dieter Gerhard Worm. Balance Engineer, Recording Engineer & Editing: SRK. Newly, digitally remastered by Artephon Musikproduktion GmbH, Berlin.
Buy this album at:
CD-1 (1996): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Music Download: ClassicsOnline
CD-2 (2000): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
8-CD (1999): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de

< Complete Recordings 1900-1949

Complete Recordings 1960-1969 >

The list of recordings was compiled by Aryeh Oron (April 2000 - July 2022)
Thanks to Contributors: Anandgyan (January 2010), Yoël L. Arbeitman (July 2009); Rainer Baruth (April 2012); Thérèse Hanquet (February 2007); Matthias Hansen (July 2006, August 2006, June 2008, June 2013, June 2018); Rainer Harald (April 2022); Frits van Laeken Herbold (São Paulo, Brazil - March 2008, March 2012, January 2014, August 2015); Harald Kurama (November 2010); Christian Moll (November 2009); Jean-Gabriel Puyraveau (April 2014); Pierre-F. Roberge (July 2009); Peter Schmidt (May 2005); Jean-Louis Serre (March 2006); Russ Sackowitz (September 2008); Thomas Shepherd (April 2007); Burke Smith (November 2007); Peter Tanzer (November 2001); Bradley Taylor (April 2005, July 2009); Jerome F. Weber (May 2019)

Cantata BWV 4: Christ lag in Todesbanden for Easter Day [Easter Sunday] (1707-1708)
Details | Complete Recordings: 1900-1949 | 1950-1959 | 1960-1969 | 1970-1979 | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2020-2029 | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6