A Festive Baroque Christmas

The Choir and Orchestra of
The Academy of Ancient Music


Composers:
Heinrich Schutz (1585 - 1672)
Giovanni Gabrieli (1554 - 1612)
Matthias Weckmann (1621 - 1674)
Francesco Usper (circa 1570 - 1641)


Performers:
Susan Addison - sackbut
Joanne Andrews - soprano
Tessa Bonner - soprano
Julian Clarkson - bass
Simon Davies - tenor
Helen Groves - soprano
Andrew King - tenor
Andrew Manze - violin
Alastair Mitchell - dulcian
Sarah Pendlebury - soprano
Tom Phillips - tenor
Charles Pott - bass
Richard Roberts - countertenor
Jeremy West - cornett



Ensemble:
The Choir and Orchestra of
The Academy of Ancient Music

Conductor:
Paul Goodwin

Recorded in:
St. John's Church, Smith Square, London




Christmas was celebrated with particular splendour in the churches and court chapels of seventeenth-century Lutheran Germany. This attractive programme draws together a wide variety of Schutz’ choral motets and dialogues to form an alternative Christmas story. As Schutz wrote no purely instrumental music; the sonatas and conzonas are by his associates and pupils Gabrieli; Usper and Weckmann.



Tracklist:

01. Trostet, trostet mein Volk SWV 382
Comfort ye, my people Heinrich Schutz

02. Sei gegrusset, Maria SWV 333
Hail, Mary, full of grace Heinrich Schutz

03. Canzon XI (Instrumental) Giovanni Gabrieli

04. Magnificat anima mea Dominum SWV 468
My soul doth magnify the Lord Heinrich Schutz

05. Joseph, du Sohn David SWV 323
Joseph, thou son of David Heinrich Schutz

06. Der Engel sprach zu den Hirten SWV 395
The angel spoke to the shepherds Heinrich Schutz

07. Hodie Christus natus est SWV 315
On this day Christ was born Heinrich Schutz

08. Sonata a 4 (Instrumental) Matthias Weckmann

09. O Jesu, nomen dulce SWV 308
O Jesus, name so sweet Heinrich Schutz

10. Ein Kind ist uns geboren SWV 384
For unto us a child is born Heinrich Schutz

11. Canzon X (Instrumental) Giovanni Gabrieli

12. Allein Gott in der Hoh sei Ehr SWV 327
To God alone the song we raise Heinrich Schutz

13. Das Wort ward Fleisch SWV 385
And the Word was made flesh Heinrich Schutz

14. Sonata a 8 (Instrumental) Francesco Usper

15. Alleluja, lobet den Herren SWV 38
Alleluia, praise God (Psalm 150) Heinrich Schutz


MORE INFO:
harmoniamundi.com (http://www.harmoniamundi.com/others/album_fiche.php?album_id=258
allmusic.com (http://wc01.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=43:93232~T0
arkivmusic.com (http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=5334