Cantata Information
Christ lag in Todes Banden, BWV 4
Created probably 24 April 1707, Mühlhausen period. Occasion: Easter.
BWV2 (1990 catalogue): BWV 4.1.
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Easter
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From the Bach Archiv Leipzig, this website offers scientifically sound information on the works of Johann Sebastian Bach as well as on the transmission of sources for this body of works up to around 1850, in accordance with the most up-to-date research.
A vast, long-running online resource created and curated by Aryeh Oron. It offers an unparalleled collection of information on J.S. Bach’s cantatas and other vocal works — including texts, translations, discographies, performer biographies, and historical notes — making it one of the most comprehensive Bach reference sites on the internet.
This Swiss foundation has set itself the unique task of performing the entire vocal works of Bach within a period of around 25 years. With great musical passion and historical performance practice, the choir and orchestra, conducted by Rudolf Lutz, interpret Bach's works to the highest standard. In their Bachipedia section you can find notes on all cantatas they have performed. In German, English and Spanish.
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This Dutch Bach scholar created a website with information on all cantatas and other vocal works, with the librettos translated into Dutch, links to videos, other websites and much more. Since Eduard's death in 2024 I'm assisting his widow Ria to maintain the site, because such a wonderful resource must be preserved. In Dutch.
A very complete site containing the lyrics to most cantatas and an English translation, curated by two musical scholars and absolute Bach authorities, Michael Marissen and Daniel R. Melamed.
A collective group of singers and instrumentalists founded in 1970 by Craig Smith. It was created specifically to perform the complete cycle of over 200 sacred cantatas of J. S. Bach in the liturgical setting for which they were intended, an endeavor twice completed and a tradition which continues today. Has both notes on cantatas and translated librettos.
Emmanuel Music Boston has English translations for many cantatas.
The International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP), also known as the Petrucci Music Library after publisher Ottaviano Petrucci, is a digital library of public-domain music scores, available either as a subscription-based service or free without registering.
A Swiss website with French translations of the Bach cantatas.
A website with the texts and instrumentations of J. S. Bach's cantatas, motets, masses, passions, oratorios, and chorales.
Discogs (short for "discographies") is an online database and marketplace for audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. Its user-generated database aims to catalogue every physical music release ever made. As of 2025, it contains over 18 million entries.
Videos with this cantata
Ton Koopman
Published 30 June 2019J. S. Bach : CANTATA – BWV 4 “Christ lag in Todes Banden” (Ton Koopman)
Ton Koopman
Published 12 June 2023Bach: Cantatas BWV 4.2, 66.3, 37, 104 | Ton Koopman & Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir
Andrew Parrott
Published 30 April 2012J.S. Bach / Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4 (Parrott)
Bach-consort Moscow
Published 21 December 2011J.S.Bach.Cantata "Christ lag in Todesbanden" BWV4 Ensemble 'Bach-consort'
Bach-Stiftung
Published 17 April 2020Introduction to BWV 4 "Christ lag in Todesbanden" - Rudolf Lutz (J. S. Bach Foundation)
Bloomington Bach Cantata Project
Published 9 September 2021J. S. Bach, "Christ lag in Todes Banden" BWV 4--Bloomington Bach Cantata Project
Ensemble Orlando Fribourg
Published 5 December 2016J.S. Bach - Cantata BWV 4 "Christ lag in Todesbanden"
Eric Milnes
Published 28 June 2014Johann Sebastian Bach - BWV 4 - Christ lag in Todesbanden
Guillon (met noten)
Published 11 April 2016Bach: BWV 4. Christ lag in Todesbanden - Guillon (live)
Helmut Rilling
Published 30 July 2013Bach J.S. Cantata BWV 4
John Eliot Gardiner
Published 24 July 2016J. S. Bach - Cantata "Christ lag in Todesbanden" BWV 4 (Gardiner)
Karl Richter
Published 7 April 2014J.S. Bach Cantata Christ lag in Todesbanden BWV 4, Karl Richter
Masaaki Suzuki
Published 20 August 2021J. S. Bach- BWV4, BWV150, BWV196 - M.Suzuki (CD 01/55)
Musica Amphion, Gesualdo Consort Amsterdam
Published 16 June 2012Bach Cantate BWV 4 & BWV 80 - Gesualdo Consort - Musica Amphion - Live Concert HD
Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Published 1 September 2019Bach - Cantate BWV 4 - Christ lag in Todesbanden
Philippe Pierlot, Ricercar Consort
Published 6 June 2014Bach Cantata BWV 4 Christ lag in Todesbanden Ricercar Pierlot
Raphaël Pichon, Pygmalion
Published 8 January 2025Bach Cantata BWV 4 Easter «Christ lag in Todes Banden» Raphaël Pichon
Robert Shaw (1946)
Published 22 July 2019Bach Kantate BWV 4 Christ lag in Todesbanden, Kantate zum 1. Ostertag, Robert Shaw 1950
Thomanerchor Leipzig
Published 1 April 2015JS Bach: Cantata BWV 4 - Thomanerchor, Georg Christoph Biller (Audio video)
Thomanerchor Leipzig
Published 18 September 2013✥ BACH - Christ lag in Todesbanden (BWV 4) ✥