The Bach Collegium Japan (BCJ), founded in 1990 by Masaaki Suzuki, aims to introduce Japanese audiences to period instrument performances of Baroque works, primarily focusing on J.S. Bach.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Bach's cantatas, Passions, and oratorios represent a pinnacle of church music, serving as a testament to his faith and a counterpoint to the Enlightenment era.
Performer Biography
Masaaki Suzuki, the director of Bach Collegium Japan, began playing the organ for church services at age 12 and later studied harpsichord and organ at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam.
Historical Context
In Bach's time, church vocalists were exclusively male, with boys singing descant and alto parts, a tradition rooted in the Latin phrase 'Mulier taceat in ecclesia' ('Let women be silent in church').
Composition History
Three cantatas on this album, BWV 22, BWV 23, and BWV 75, were pivotal in Bach's career, as he used the first two to apply for the post of Cantor of St. Thomas in Leipzig and performed the third upon assuming his duties.
Composer Biography
Bach, initially considered an 'emergency solution' for the Cantor position in Leipzig after other star musicians declined, proved to be a stroke of good fortune for the city.
Performer Biography
Yoshikazu Mera, the counter-tenor on this album, gained international recognition for his performance of the title song for the film Princess Mononoke.
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