Bach Cantatas (No. 11 "Praise Our God", No. 67 "Hold In Affection Jesus Christ", From No. 147 "Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring")

This recording was originally issued by Decca in the late 1940s and subsequently reissued on the budget-friendly Ace of Clubs label, catalog number ACL 52, during the 1950s. It captures performances by the British contralto Kathleen Ferrier, whose deep, emotive vocal timbre became synonymous with these Bach cantata interpretations. The recordings were produced under the direction of Reginald Jacques, who founded the Jacques Orchestra specifically to champion the work of Bach and other Baroque masters with a balance of scholarship and warmth.

The technical approach of these recordings reflects the mid-20th-century British tradition of Bach performance, favoring a lush, expressive style that stood in contrast to the later period-instrument movement. Ferrier's contributions are widely regarded as the centerpiece of these pressings, as her unique ability to convey profound spiritual weight within these sacred works earned her critical acclaim. When repackaged under the Ace of Clubs label, the recordings allowed a broader audience to access what had become iconic examples of post-war English choral music production.