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Артист: Cantus Colln Альбом: Johann Sebastian Bach - Missae Breves - Lutheran Masses (2 CDs), 2007 Издатель: Harmonia Mundi Жанр: Classical Формат файла: EAC / FLAC / CUE / LOG Ссылка: CD Нахождение: Torrent

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)

Missae Breves (Lutheran Masses)



Ensemble:
Cantus Colln

Conductor:
Konrad Junghanel




The four Masses BWV 233-236, composed in Leipzig between 1735 and 1744, consist for the most part of parodies and reworkings of cantata movements. As a result the four 'little' masses were long considered second-rate music; as is demonstrated by the small number of recordings available. But when one listens to the works with unprejudiced ears - as the present set of CDs invites us to do - it soon becomes apparent that Bach succeeded in placing the movements drawn from cantatas in an entirely new and perfectly coherent context. All are limited to the Kyrie and Gloria, with just six separate numbers in each mass.
Nothing is known of the practical use to which these four masses were put. It is thought that the masses were used in the liturgy of the principal churches of Leipzig, more particularly on the high feast-days and lesser festivals of the church year. Despite their extremely varied overall character, the four works are all based on a standard formal scheme. The Kyrie is invariably a choral movement, sometimes in several sections, whereas the more extended text of the Gloria is split into five movements: at the beginning ('Gloria in excelsis Deo') and end ('Cum Sancto Spiritu') come two large framing choruses, while the remaining text is divided among three solo movements (arias). It is worthy of note that Bach took over the bulk of the movements from just four cantatas, but then actually used every suitable movement from those works. To these are added individual movements from at least seven more compositions. We may assume that Bach regarded the four core works - the cantatas BWV 79, 102, 179 and 187 - as particularly successful, but also as possessing a musical structure especially appropriate for adaptation to the text of the Mass.
Since the additional movements of the Roman Catholic Mass (Sanctus, Agnus Dei, and Credo) that appear in his B minor Mass were excluded, Bach's four missa breves (short masses) are essentially two-movement Lutheran works. Naturally, Bach being Bach, he subdivided the expansive Gloria into five shorter movements; set the texts as arias, duets, and choruses; and used an orchestra ensemble including strings, flutes, oboes, trumpets, and organ as a powerful and colorful accompaniment. But at the heart of all four works is the austere faith of Martin Luther, and the German reformer's strength, severity, and occasional sentimentality is at the spiritual core of Bach's sacred music. Superbly sung here by the eight-voice Cantus Colln led by Konrad Junghanel, Bach's missa breves are heartfelt and sincere, with yearning intensity in both the solos and the choruses. Accompanied with a deft sense of style, and splendidly recorded by Harmonia Mundi in early 2006 in L'eglise St. Osdag in Neustadt-Mandelsloh, the Junghanel and Cantus Colln's recording of the missae breves will warm a lot of hearts.
Most modern discussions of Bach's so-called Lutheran Masses bemoan the fact that scholars and Bach authorities have dismissed their intrinsic musical value because they are predominantly parodies-reworkings of existing music, in this case, movements from 10 different cantatas. Never mind that the "existing music" is all by Bach, and that Bach didn't just insert new texts or change instrumentation, but he actually created virtually new works that stand firmly on their own. And what kind of bizarre thinking determines that a composer using his own existing music in a completely different context somehow makes the new setting inferior to the original? All you have to do is listen--especially to the ravishing choruses in the G major and G minor masses-and you can only wonder how to attach the label of "lesser Bach" to this.
As for recordings, this new release from Cantus Colln containing the four complete extant masses has it all: terrific sound, smart tempos, clear articulation, artful ensemble, and vibrant, energetic performances. Konrad Junghanel's chorus-two on a part-strikes a nice balance between Herreweghe's 18 voices (Virgin) and the one-to-a-part rendition on Chandos. The soloists-very important in these works-are all very good, and the orchestra enlivens every aspect of the performances, especially notable for the contributions of winds and horns. No matter how you look at it, this is first-rate Bach, and first-rate music that never should be relegated to adjunct status, and these excellent performances are proof enough.




Tracklist:

CD 1
Mass in G major, BWV236
Mass in A major, BWV234

CD 2
Mass in G minor, BWV235
Mass in F major, BWV233




MORE INFO:
harmoniamundi.com
allmusic.com
arkivmusic.com
barnesandnoble.com

This post has been edited by kgkk on 02-12-2007, 23:25