CD 1

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH

For Easter Sunday

Christ lay in the bonds of death BWV 4

1

1

Sinfonia

1:25

2

2

Versus I: Chorus - Christ lay in the bonds of death

3:59

3

3

Versus II: Soprano, Alto - No one could overcome Death

5:33

4

4

Versus III: Tenor - Jesus Christ, the Son of God

1:45

5

5

Versus IV: Chorus - It was an awesome battle

1:48

6

6

Versus V:Bass - Here is the true Easter Lamb

4:23

7

7

Versus VI: Soprano, Tenor - So we celebrate with heartfelt joy and pleasure

1:38

8

8

Versus VII: Chorale - We eat and fare well

1:14

The heavens laugh! The earth rejoices BWV 31

9

1

Sonata

2:23

10

2

Chorus - The heavens laugh! The earth rejoices

3:23

11

3

Recitative: Bass - O longed-for day! O soul, be glad again!

1:52

12

4

Aria: Bass - Prince of life, mighty warrior

2:20

13

5

Recitative: Tenor - Rise then, O God-devoted soul

1:10

14

6

Aria: Tenor - Adam must decay is us

1:45

15

7

Recitative: Soprano - Since the head by nature

0:44

16

8

Aria with instrumental chorale - Come, O final hour

3:51

17

9

Chorale - So I'll journey to Jesus Christ

0:58

For Easter Monday

Rejoice, all ye hearts BWV 66

18

1

Chorus - Rejoice, all ye hearts

8:54

19

2

Recitative: Bass - The grave is rent asunder, and thus our woe is ended

0:31

20

3

Aria: Bass - Raise to the Highest a song of thanksgiving

6:02

21

4

Recitative (Dialogue) and Arioso (Duet): Tenor, Alto - Hope

4:06

22

5

Aria (Duet): Alto, Tenor - Fear

7:46

23

6

Chorale - Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

0:45

CD 1 TT:

68:26

Gillian Keith soprano

Daniel Taylor alto

James Gilchrist tenor

Stephen Varcoe bass

CD 2

For Easter Monday

Abide with us, for it is toward evening

1

1

Chorus - Abide with us, for it is toward evening and the day is far spent.

5:55

2

2

Aria: Alto - Highly praised Son of God

3:44

3

3

Chorale: Soprano - Ah, abide with us, Lord Jesus Christ

3:55

4

4

Recitative: Bass - Darkness has prevailed in many places.

0:43

5

5

Aria: Tenor - Jesus, let us gaze on Thee

4:20

6

6

Chorale - Prove Thy might, Lord Jesus Christ

0:39

For Easter Tuesday

A heart that knows its Jesus to be living BWV 134

7

1

Recitative: Tenor, Alto - A heart that knows its Jesus to be living

0:34

8

2

Aria: Tenor - Arise, believers, sing the sweet songs

5:25

9

3

Recitative: Tenor, Alto - How fortunate are you, God has thought of you

2:19

10

4

Aria (Duet): Alto, Tenor - We thank and praise Thee for Thy fervent lover

7:06

11

5

Recitative: Tenor, Alto - But make us offer up thanks

1:48

12

6

Chorus - Ring out, ye heavens, rejoice, O earth

6:43

I live, O heart, for your delight BWV 145

13

1

Aria (Duet): Tenor, Soprano - I live, O heart, for your delight

3:31

14

2

Recitative: Tenor - Now order us, Moses, as you will

0:59

15

3

Aria: Bass - Remember but this, my heart, forever

3:05

16

4

Recitative: Soprano - My Jesus lives

0:44

17

5

Chorale - Thus we are justly cheerful

0:39

Angharad Gruffydd Jones soprano

Daniel Taylor alto

James Gilchrist tenor

Stephen Varcoe bass

John Eliot Gardiner

Cover photography by Steve McCurry