Bach: Mass in B minor, Scherchen (MCA Classics Double Decker, 2 CD): version 1
Saved 2026-09-25 14:12 by @benjaminsen (bot): Added MCA Classics MCAD2-9821 (UPC 0 76732-9821-2 9), the 1989 US double decker 2-CD issue of Hermann Scherchen's 1959 Bach Mass in B minor, completing a variant row of family/bach-mass-in-b-minor-scherchen-1959. Identity, credits, copyrights, remastering notes and all 24 track times were read from the front cover and both tray cards on Cover Art Archive (both print this barcode); Discogs release 15171869 and MusicBrainz releases 472fe3eb/5d41137f (one per disc) confirm the barcode. Amazon.com ASIN B00000DWBK (found by barcode search, used offers only) recorded as a derived US listing. New stubs: brand/mca-classics (Discogs and MusicBrainz label records) and company/mca-records (Discogs company profile: incorporated CA 1970, merged into UMG Recordings 2000; Wikipedia). Gaps: Discogs calls the discs mono though the recording was stereo; prefix length for 0076732 unsourced; whether the two discs were also sold separately.. This is the current version.
Source of v1
# Bach: Mass in B minor, Scherchen (MCA Classics Double Decker, 2 CD) <!--product-->
## Identity <!--identity-->
gtin: 00076732982129
name: Bach: Mass in B minor, Scherchen (MCA Classics Double Decker, 2 CD)
family: family/bach-mass-in-b-minor-scherchen-1959
default_observation: cd-1989
summary: MCA Classics' 1989 two-CD Double Decker issue (MCAD2-9821) of Hermann Scherchen's 1959 Vienna recording of Bach's Mass in B minor, BWV 232, first released by Westminster.
brand: brand/mca-classics
category: category/10001459
country_of_sale: US
pack_quantity: 2
model_number: MCAD2-9821
status: discontinued
<!--/identity-->
## Relations <!--relations-->
| role | target | market | from | until | ended | status | source | note |
| ---------------- | ------------------- | ------ | ---- | ----- | ----- | ------- | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| marketed_by | company/mca-records | US | 1989 | | | printed | ^caa-a | "© 1989 MCA Records, Inc. ℗ 1989 MCA Records, Inc." on both tray cards; MCA Classics is a label of MCA Records, Inc. per the Discogs label record |
| manufactured_for | company/mca-records | US | 1989 | | | printed | ^caa-a | "Manufactured for MCA Records, Inc., 70 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, U.S.A." |
| gs1_prefix_owner | company/mca-records | | | | | derived | ^caa-a | prefix 0076732; MCA Records, Inc. is named on the pack as the company the disc was manufactured for |
<!--/relations-->
## Markets <!--markets-->
| country | status | source | note | observed | condition | origin | price |
| ------- | ------- | ---------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------- | --------- | ------ | --------- |
| US | printed | ^caa-a | Tray cards print "Manufactured for MCA Records, Inc., 70 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, U.S.A."; the Discogs entry gives release country US and barcode 0 76732-9821-2 9 | 2026-09-25 | | | |
| US | derived | ^amazon-us | Amazon.com search for 076732982129 returns this ASIN, "Bach: Mass in B Minor", label MCA Classics, 2 discs, under CDs & Vinyl › Classical; the page prints no UPC. Only used offers: buy box USD 11.93 (Used: Like New), three used offers from USD 3.49 plus shipping | 2026-09-25 | used | | USD 11.93 |
<!--/markets-->
## Aliases <!--aliases-->
| name | type | locale | from | until |
| --------------------------------------------------- | ------ | ------ | ---- | ----- |
| Mass in B minor | name | en | | |
| Johann Sebastian Bach: Mass in B Minor (Part 1) | search | en | | |
| Johann Sebastian Bach: Mass in B Minor (Conclusion) | search | en | | |
| MCA Classics MCAD2-9821, Double Decker 2 CD (1989) | search | | | |
| MCAD2-9821 | search | | | |
<!--/aliases-->
## Release <!--release-->
artists: Johann Sebastian Bach, Pierrette Alarie, Leopold Simoneau, Nan Merriman, Gustav Neidlinger, Willy Boskowsky, Franz Holetschek, Vienna Academy Chorus, Vienna State Opera Orchestra, Hermann Scherchen
label: brand/mca-classics
record_company: company/mca-records
copyright: © 1989 MCA Records, Inc.
phonographic_copyright: ℗ 1989 MCA Records, Inc.; all selections previously released on Westminster
catalogue_number: MCAD2-9821
media: cd
discs: 2
released: 1989
release_country: US
genre: Classical
runtime_min: 133.8
edition: MCA Classics double decker; digitally remastered
<!--/release-->
## Tracks <!--tracks-->
| position | title | artist | duration | source | note | writers |
| -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------ | -------- | ------ | ----------------------- | --------------------- |
| 1-1 | Kyrie: 1. Chorus: Kyrie eleison | | 14:46 | ^caa-a | MusicBrainz gives 14:50 | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 1-2 | Kyrie: 2. Duet: Christe eleison | | 4:51 | ^caa-a | MusicBrainz gives 7:20 | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 1-3 | Kyrie: 3. Chorus: Kyrie eleison | | 5:23 | ^caa-a | MusicBrainz gives 4:52 | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 1-4 | Gloria: 4. Chorus: Gloria in excelsis Deo | | 7:18 | ^caa-a | MusicBrainz gives 5:27 | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 1-5 | Gloria: 5. Aria: Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te | | 4:46 | ^caa-a | | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 1-6 | Gloria: 6. Chorus: Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam | | 3:18 | ^caa-a | | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 1-7 | Gloria: 7. Duet: Domine Deus, Rex coelestis! | | 5:45 | ^caa-a | | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 1-8 | Gloria: 8. Chorus: Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis | | 4:51 | ^caa-a | | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 1-9 | Gloria: 9. Aria: Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis! | | 5:01 | ^caa-a | | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 1-10 | Gloria: 10. Aria: Quoniam tu solus sanctus, tu solus Dominus | | 6:08 | ^caa-a | | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 1-11 | Gloria: 11. Chorus: Cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris, Amen | | 4:43 | ^caa-a | Discogs gives 4:45 | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 2-1 | Credo: 12. Chorus: Credo in unum Deum | | 2:01 | ^caa-b | MusicBrainz gives 2:03 | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 2-2 | Credo: 13. Chorus: Patrem omnipotentem, factorem coeli et terrae | | 2:44 | ^caa-b | MusicBrainz gives 2:47 | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 2-3 | Credo: 14. Duet: Et in unum Dominum, Jesum Christum | | 4:26 | ^caa-b | | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 2-4 | Credo: 15. Chorus: Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine | | 4:25 | ^caa-b | | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 2-5 | Credo: 16. Chorus: Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato | | 5:09 | ^caa-b | | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 2-6 | Credo: 17. Chorus: Et resurrexit tertia die secundum Scripturas | | 3:57 | ^caa-b | | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 2-7 | Credo: 18. Aria: Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem | | 5:45 | ^caa-b | MusicBrainz gives 5:47 | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 2-8 | Credo: 19. Chorus: Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum | | 9:11 | ^caa-b | MusicBrainz gives 9:16 | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 2-9 | Sanctus: 20. Chorus: Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth! | | 7:13 | ^caa-b | | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 2-10 | Sanctus: 21. Chorus: Osanna in excelsis | | 2:46 | ^caa-b | MusicBrainz gives 2:49 | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 2-11 | Sanctus: 22. Aria: Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini | | 9:57 | ^caa-b | MusicBrainz gives 10:04 | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 2-12 | Agnus Dei: 23. Aria: Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis | | 5:28 | ^caa-b | MusicBrainz gives 5:29 | Johann Sebastian Bach |
| 2-13 | Agnus Dei: 24. Chorus: Dona nobis pacem | | 3:56 | ^caa-b | MusicBrainz gives 3:58 | Johann Sebastian Bach |
<!--/tracks-->
## Specifications <!--specifications-->
| property | value | unit | source | note | observation | key | numeric_value | mode | state | method | qualifier |
| ---------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---- | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- | --- | ------------- | ---- | -------- | ---------- | --------- |
| Series | MCA Classics double decker | | ^caa-a | Logo on the front and the back tray card of both discs | cd-1989 | | | | known | printed | |
| Disc catalogue numbers | Disc one: MCAD2-9821A; disc two: MCAD2-9821B | | ^caa-a | Printed on each disc's tray card and spine; disc two's card on Cover Art Archive | cd-1989 | | | | known | printed | |
| Barcode as printed | 0 76732-9821-2 9 | | ^caa-a | The same barcode is printed on the tray cards of disc one and disc two | cd-1989 | | | | known | printed | |
| SPARS code | AAD | | ^caa-a | Both tray cards | cd-1989 | | | | known | printed | |
| Remastering | Remastered digitally from analogue recordings using the Sony PCM 1630 digital processor | | ^caa-a | Front cover also reads "Digitally remastered" | cd-1989 | | | | known | printed | |
| Timing, disc one | 66:50 | | ^caa-a | Sum of the eleven printed track times | cd-1989 | | | | known | calculated | |
| Timing, disc two | 66:58 | | ^caa-b | Sum of the thirteen printed track times | cd-1989 | | | | known | calculated | |
| Format description | CD ×2, reissue, remastered, mono | | ^discogs-mca | The family page records Westminster's first issue, WST 304, as a stereo LP box set; the tray cards state no channel format | cd-1989 | | | | disputed | printed | |
| Package dimensions | 5.7 × 5 × 0.8 in; 8 oz | | ^amazon-us | Amazon.com listing's shipping data | cd-1989 | | | | known | printed | |
<!--/specifications-->
## Observations <!--observations-->
| id | label | kind | market | language | valid_from | valid_until | observed | status | ingredients_text | ingredients_declaration | ingredients_exempt_basis | source | note | net_content | pack_quantity | piece_count | pack_format | model_number |
| ------- | -------------------------------- | ------- | ------ | -------- | ---------- | ----------- | ---------- | --------- | ---------------- | ----------------------- | ------------------------ | ------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- | ------------- | ----------- | ----------- | ------------ |
| cd-1989 | 1989 US 2-CD release, MCAD2-9821 | edition | US | en | 1989 | | 2026-09-25 | supported | | | | ^caa-a | Read from the front cover and tray cards of both discs on Cover Art Archive; each disc has its own tray card printing this barcode. Discogs holds the set as one release, MusicBrainz as two single-disc releases | | 2 | | | MCAD2-9821 |
<!--/observations-->
## Credits <!--credits-->
| observation | name | role | source | status | note |
| ----------- | ------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------- | ------ | -------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| cd-1989 | Johann Sebastian Bach | Composer | ^caa-a | credited | |
| cd-1989 | Hermann Scherchen | Conductor | ^caa-a | credited | |
| cd-1989 | Pierrette Alarie | Soprano | ^caa-a | credited | |
| cd-1989 | Leopold Simoneau | Tenor | ^caa-a | credited | Léopold Simoneau |
| cd-1989 | Nan Merriman | Alto | ^caa-a | credited | |
| cd-1989 | Gustav Neidlinger | Bass | ^caa-a | credited | |
| cd-1989 | Willy Boskowsky | Solo violin | ^caa-a | credited | As printed; usually spelled Willi Boskovsky |
| cd-1989 | Franz Holetschek | Organ | ^caa-a | credited | |
| cd-1989 | Vienna Academy Chorus | Choir | ^caa-a | credited | Wiener Akademie Kammerchor on Discogs |
| cd-1989 | Vienna State Opera Orchestra | Orchestra | ^caa-a | credited | Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper on Discogs |
| cd-1989 | Martin Fleischmann | Re-release coordination and supervision of digital remastering | ^caa-a | credited | |
| cd-1989 | Doug Schwartz | Remastering engineer | ^caa-a | credited | |
| cd-1989 | Vito Fiorenza and Tom Cardamone Associates | Art and design | ^caa-a | credited | |
| cd-1989 | Edward Tatnall Canby | Liner notes | ^caa-a | credited | Signed "Record Critic, Harper's Magazine" in the booklet |
<!--/credits-->
## Research gaps <!--research_gaps-->
| observation | domain | state | detail | source |
| ----------- | -------------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------ |
| cd-1989 | specifications | disputed | Discogs describes the discs as mono, while the recording was first issued in stereo by Westminster (WST 304); the tray cards state no channel format. | ^discogs-mca |
| cd-1989 | packaging | unknown | Whether the two discs, each in its own case with its own tray card, were sold shrink-wrapped together or also separately is not stated on the photographed parts. | ^caa-a |
| | relationships | unknown | The length of the GS1 company prefix behind 0 76732 is not stated by a source; the gs1_prefix_owner row is derived from the pack and no prefix is written to the company stub. | |
<!--/research_gaps-->
## Research <!--research-->
structure_version: 2
reviewed_on: 2026-09-25
note: New discover entry built from the tray cards and front cover on Cover Art Archive, the Discogs release and label records, both MusicBrainz disc releases, the Amazon.com listing, Wikipedia and the Bach Cantatas discography.
<!--/research-->
## References <!--references-->
| ref | url | title | accessed | publisher | kind | published | record_id | locator | licence | attribution | upstream |
| -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------- | --------------------- | ----------- | --------- | ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------- | ------------ | ----------- | -------- |
| caa-a | https://coverartarchive.org/release/472fe3eb-7f31-449c-9c9e-abb6a07acc08 | Cover Art Archive: front cover, booklet and tray card of disc one (MCAD2-9821A) | 2026-09-25 | Cover Art Archive | pack | | 472fe3eb-7f31-449c-9c9e-abb6a07acc08 | images 38635852410, 38635854926 | | | |
| caa-b | https://coverartarchive.org/release/5d41137f-e42a-4f36-acd6-9ff044e63f07 | Cover Art Archive: front cover, booklet and tray card of disc two (MCAD2-9821B) | 2026-09-25 | Cover Art Archive | pack | | 5d41137f-e42a-4f36-acd6-9ff044e63f07 | image 38635971330 | | | |
| discogs-mca | https://api.discogs.com/releases/15171869 | Discogs release 15171869: Mass In B Minor (MCA Classics MCAD2-9821, US, 1989) | 2026-09-25 | Discogs | catalogue | | 15171869 | identifiers, notes, tracklist | | | |
| discogs-label | https://api.discogs.com/labels/93803 | Discogs label 93803: MCA Classics | 2026-09-25 | Discogs | catalogue | | 93803 | profile, parent label | | | |
| discogs-mcainc | https://api.discogs.com/labels/63704 | Discogs label 63704: MCA Records, Inc. | 2026-09-25 | Discogs | catalogue | | 63704 | profile | | | |
| mb-a | https://musicbrainz.org/ws/2/release/472fe3eb-7f31-449c-9c9e-abb6a07acc08?fmt=json&inc=labels+recordings+artist-credits | MusicBrainz release: Johan Sebastian Bach: Mass In B Minor (Part 1), MCAD2-9821A | 2026-09-25 | MusicBrainz | catalogue | | 472fe3eb-7f31-449c-9c9e-abb6a07acc08 | | CC0 | | |
| mb-b | https://musicbrainz.org/ws/2/release/5d41137f-e42a-4f36-acd6-9ff044e63f07?fmt=json&inc=labels+recordings+artist-credits | MusicBrainz release: Johann Sebastian Bach: Mass in B Minor (Conclusion), MCAD2-9821B | 2026-09-25 | MusicBrainz | catalogue | | 5d41137f-e42a-4f36-acd6-9ff044e63f07 | | CC0 | | |
| amazon-us | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00000DWBK | Amazon.com: Bach: Mass in B Minor (MCA Classics, 2 discs) | 2026-09-25 | Amazon.com | retailer | | B00000DWBK | Product details; buy box | | | |
| wp-mca | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MCA_Records | Wikipedia: MCA Records | 2026-09-25 | Wikipedia | publication | | | | CC BY-SA 4.0 | | |
| bach-cantatas | https://www.bach-cantatas.com/Vocal/BWV232-Scherchen.htm | Bach Cantatas Website: Mass in B minor BWV 232, conducted by Hermann Scherchen | 2026-09-25 | Bach Cantatas Website | publication | | | V-2 | | | |
<!--/references-->
## About <!--about-->
A two-CD set in MCA Classics' "double decker" series, issued in the United States in 1989 under catalogue number MCAD2-9821, of Hermann Scherchen's 1959 Vienna recording of Bach's Mass in B minor, BWV 232.[^discogs-mca][^bach-cantatas] The soloists are Pierrette Alarie, Nan Merriman, Leopold Simoneau and Gustav Neidlinger, with the Vienna Academy Chorus and the Vienna State Opera Orchestra, Willy Boskowsky as solo violinist and Franz Holetschek at the organ.[^caa-a] The discs, MCAD2-9821A and MCAD2-9821B, each have their own tray card printing this barcode, which is why MusicBrainz lists them as two releases.[^caa-b][^mb-a][^mb-b] MCA Records, Inc. of Universal City, California, holds the 1989 copyrights.[^caa-a]
The tray cards say all selections were previously released on Westminster and that the analogue recordings were remastered digitally on a Sony PCM 1630 processor, adding that minor sonic flaws are due to deterioration of the original source.[^caa-a] MCA had acquired Westminster with ABC Records in 1979; its classical catalogue is now managed by Deutsche Grammophon.[^wp-mca] MCA Classics ran from 1986 to 1997 as a label of MCA Records, Inc.[^discogs-label] The Bach Cantatas discography lists the recording as Scherchen's second of the Mass, with a total time of 134:41, and a contributor to its forum recalled in 2002 buying the double decker set in 1989 or 1990 for under 12 US dollars.[^bach-cantatas] Amazon.com still lists the MCA set, with used copies only.[^amazon-us]
<!--/about-->