Bach,J.S. / Suzuki / Suga Secular Cantatas 9 / Contest Between Phoebus & Pan Super-Audio CD

Most of Johannes Sebastian Bach's secular cantatas were written for specific political, academic or private festive occasions. In the case of Geschwinde, ihr wirbelnden Winde, BWV 201, however, it may well be that Bach composed it for his own sake: the message conveyed in the work can be interpreted as a defence of Bach's own artistry and musical attitudes against the trend of the time towards easier fare. Subtitling the cantata 'dramma per musica', Bach sets an episode from Greek mythology in which Phoebus (Apollo) and Pan enter into a musical contest. Phoebus, the god of the arts, presents a beautifully balanced and technically accomplished aria, while Pan sings a rustic dance tune. The judges offer Phoebus the prize, but the verdict isn't unanimous - King Midas prefers Pan's catchy ditty, for which Phoebus punishes him by giving him donkey ears. On this amply-filled disc Bach's praise of high art is followed by another tribute, now to Augustus III, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland. It is likely that Augustus never knew that the same music had been used 10 years earlier to congratulate a Leipzig academic on his promotion: Auf, schmetternde T?ne... BWV 207a is based almost entirely on Vereinigte Zwietracht der wechselnden Saiten, BWV 207. But Bach was something of the recycler's recycler, and already BWV 207 included music from the First Brandenburg Concerto, with a choir added to the forces, and trumpets and timpani replacing the horns.

1. Geschwinde, Ihr Wirbelnden Winde 2. Und Du Bist Doch So Unverschaemt Und Frei 3. Patron, Das Macht Der Wind 4. Was Braucht Ihr Euch Zu Zanken 5. Mit Verlangen DRCK Ich Deine Zarten Wangen 6. Pan, R?cke Deine Kehle Nun 7. Zu Tanze, Zu Sprunge, So Wackelt Das Herz 8. Nunmehro Richter Her 9. Phoebus, Deine Melodei 10. Komm, Midas, Sage Du Nun An 11. Pan Ist Meister, Lasst Ihn Gehn! 12. Wie, Midas, Bist Du Toll? 13. Aufgeblasne Hitze 14. Du Guter Midas, Geh Nun Hin 15. Labt Das Herz, Ihr Holden Saiten 16. Auf, Schmetternde Tone Der Muntern Trompeten 17. Die Stille Pleie Spielt 18. Augustus' Namenstages Schimmer 19. Augustus' Wohl Ist Der Treuen Sachsen Wohlergehn 20. Mich Kann Die Susse Ruhe Laben 21. Augustus Schutzt Die Frohen Felder 22. Preiset, Spate Folgezeiten 23. Ihr Fr÷hlichen, Herbei! 24. August Lebe, Lebe, K÷nig! 25. Marche