Cantata No. 67 Hold In Affection Jesus Christ And Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring (From Cantata No. 147)

Released in 1954 on the Decca label, this 10-inch LP featuring Cantata No. 67 and the movement 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring' from Cantata No. 147 represents an early era of high-fidelity classical recording. The mid-1950s saw a shift in the music industry toward the long-playing format, allowing listeners to experience Bach’s expansive choral works with greater continuity and improved sonic clarity compared to the traditional 78 rpm discs that preceded them.

The disc features the performance by the Jacques Orchestra and the Cantata Singers under the direction of Reginald Jacques. Jacques was a prominent figure in the mid-20th-century British musical scene, known for his dedication to Bach’s choral music and his efforts to make classical repertoire accessible to a wider public. This particular record is noted for its clean, traditional interpretation, reflecting the mid-century academic approach to baroque performance practice before the rise of the period-instrument movement.