Buxtehude: Sacred Cantatas

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
The works recorded here illustrate Buxtehude’s masterful command of the huge variety of styles that characterized the sacred cantata in Germany during the seventeenth century. Each begins with an instrumental passage, and sung text is interspersed with instrumental responses, sometimes in strophic form. In the larger cantatas for all three voices, the music allows for the maximum of contrast, whereas the four solo cantatas give a more intimate expression of Buxtehude’s craft. Into the latter category falls the extremely virtuosic Jubilate Domino, one of Buxtehude’s best-known cantatas.

Tracks:

Was Frag' Ich Nach Der Welt, BuxWV 104
Jesu, Meine Freud Und Lust, BuxWV 59
Sicut Moses, BuxWV 97
Passacaglia, BuxWV 161
Wenn Ich, Herr Jesu, Habe Dich, BuxWV 107
In Te, Domine, Speravi, BuxWV 53
Jubilate Domino, BuxWV 64
Wie Schmeckt Es So Lieblich Und Wohl, BuxWV 108

Album Description

The works recorded here illustrate Buxtehude's masterful command of the huge variety of styles that characterized the sacred cantata in Germany during the seventeenth century. Each begins with an instrumental passage, and sung text is interspersed with instrumental responses, sometimes in strophic form. In the larger cantatas for all three voices, the music allows for the maximum of contrast, whereas the four solo cantatas give a more intimate expression of Buxtehude's craft. Into the latter category falls the extremely virtuosic Jubilate Domino, one of Buxtehude's best-known cantatas.

Customer Reviews:

Exquisite CD.......2006-04-28

The two previous reviewers did a wonderful job which I won't even attempt topping as it would be impossible. But I must say that I agreed completely that Matthew White is superb, particularly on this disk. He shines on "Jesu meine Freud und Lust", I play it over and over... its just a masterpiece and I never really remember what it means in English and it doesn't matter, I love it.

Excellent and promising recording.......2005-08-07

Just a short review from me.
This recording is superb and the singing is very fine, indeed. The countertenor, Matthew White, is new to me and he has a very powerful and rich voice. I look forward to hearing more from him in the future. The cantatas presented here features voices, strings and basso continuo. None of the larger scaled cantatas with clarini, timpani, cornetti, tromboni and fagotti by Buxtehude are featured. However, we have a very beautiful collection of cantatas for voice(s) and small string instrumental groups. The works are sublime.

Many may already know the Jubilate Domino, BuxWV 64 from other recordings. Matthew White's interpretation is a very contender.

The Aradia Ensemble goes from strength to strength - last year they gave us a fine rendition of Rameau's Castor et Pollux and more recently they have made one of the most delightful CDs of 2005 - the 8 Symphonies of William Boyce (also on NAXOS). This Buxtehude CD will reinforce their reputation as one of the Baroque music groups that is really making entertaining, expressive, stylish, colourful and wonderful recordings these days.

Impressive? You betcha!

Buxtehude Cantatas in Sparkling Performances.......2004-12-22

The Aradia Ensemble has become one of Canada's, and the world's, best baroque groups. They have now recorded more than a dozen CDs on the Naxos label. This is, as far as I know, their first go at the music of Dietrich Buxtehude (ca. 1637-1707) but one hopes it won't be their last. This CD contains six sacred cantatas, all for solo singers or small vocal ensembles accompanied by small instrumental group (including at times baroque violins, viola, cello, viola da gamba, violone, theorbo and positif organ) all led by Kevin Mallon. The styles vary according to the forces called for. All have instrumental introductions, the complexity of which is determined by the form of the subsequent text and its treatment for voices and instruments. Most familiar is 'Jubilate Domino' sung with laserlike intonation and sweet tone by countertenor Matthew White. This 9-minute hymn of praise begins with a long string/organ introduction that gives us materials that are then used in the florid sung line. The form is semi-strophic, with solo instrumental intermezzi between the verses. White's solo singing is also heard in 'Jesu, meine Freud und Lust,' and 'Wenn ich, Herr Jesu, habe dich' as well as in the three cantatas that call for the singing of all three soloists. He is clearly the star of this issue and one predicts a big career for him.

Katherine Hill, a clear-voiced soprano of the Emma Kirkby stripe, is heard in another solo cantata, 'Sicut Moses' ('As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up'). The three soloists (including bass Paul Grindlay) are heard together in three other cantatas, 'Was frag' ich nach der Welt, 'In te, Domine, speravi,' and the dramatic 9-minute 'Wie schmeckt es so lieblich und wohl' ('How lovely and good the saviour') with its introduction and instrumental ritornelli, passages for combined voices as well as those for each of the soloists. This is a virtuoso work, calling for exciting (and expertly done) fioriture from the singers and solo playing from the instrumentalists.

The CD also contains the familiar Passacaglia in D minor, BuxWV 161 (originally for organ) arranged by Mallon for strings. I prefer it on the organ, but it is nonetheless an effective transcription. (It might be added that pitch on this CD seems to be pretty close to modern concert A=440, not radically lowered as it so often is in baroque recordings.) Sound is clean and lifelike.

Scott Morrison

Buxtehude: Sacred Cantatas, Vol 1 /Kirkby * Leblanc * Harvey * Purcell Quartet

Average customer rating:

A gorgeous and stylish performance

Buxtehude: Sacred Cantatas, Vol 1 /Kirkby * Leblanc * Harvey * Purcell Quartet
Purcell Quartet
Manufacturer: Chandos Chaconne
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Buxtehude: Sacred Cantatas, Vol 2 /Purcell Quartet
Buxtehude: Sacred Cantatas
Buxtehude: Geistliche Kantaten
Dietrich Buxtehude: 6 Cantatas
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ASIN: B000089HBW
Release Date: 2003-03-25

Tracks:

Sonata
Ich HAbe Lust Abzuacheiden
Spann Aus, Spann Aus, Ach Frommer Gott
Dann Was Ist Doch Die Schnode Welt
Wie Einer, Welcher Auf Dem Meer
So Spann Doch Aus, Ach Frommer Gott
Sonata
Salve, Jesu, Patris Gnate Unigenite
O Vis Amoris Tui, Jesu, Maxima!
Cur Fasciis Te Involvis Laceris, Jesule
Cur Alges, Qui Fulmina Fira Vibras
O Suavis, O Grandis Amor, O Fortis Amor
Jesu, Opstupesco, In Quem Amorem Tui Colliquesco
Jesu Dulcis Memoria
Nil Canitur Suavis
Jesu, Spes Peonitnentibus
Jesu, Dulcedo Cordium
Ned Lingua Valet Dicere
Jesu, Rex Admirabilis
Mane Nobiscum, Domine
Amor Jesu Dulcissmus
Jesu Dulcis Memoria
Sonata
Mein Herz Ist Bereit, Gott, DaB Ich Singe Und Lobe
Wache Auf, Meine Ehre, Wache Auf, Psalter Und Harfe
Herr, Ich Will Dir danken Unter Den Volkern
...Denn Deine Gute Ist So Weit De Himmel Ist
Erhebe Dich, Gott, Uber Den Himmel
Fuga, BuxWV 174 In C Major
Cantate Domino Canticum Novum
Cantate Domino, Et Benedicite Nomini Ejus
...In Omnibus Populis Mirabilia Ejus
...Quoniam Magnus Dominus Et Laudabilis Nimis
Gloria Patri Et Filio Et Spiritui Sancto
Sonata
Ich halte Es dafur
Was Qualet Mein Herz
Was Angstet Mein Herz
Ach War Ich Bei Dir
Du Gibest Mir Ruh
Drum LaB Ich Der Welt
Herr, Wenn Ich Nur Dich Hab, BuxWV 38
Sonata
Jesu, Meine Freude
Unter Deinem Schirmen
Trotz Dem Alten Drachen
Weg Mit Allen Schatzen
Gute Nacht, O Wesen
Weicht, Ihr Trauergeister

Customer Reviews:

A gorgeous and stylish performance.......2007-05-13

The interpretation in this recording is stunningly beautiful, stylish and elegant. An excellent collection of some of the most beautiful sacred cantatas of Buxtehude is presented, all performed superbly. The organ Fuga, although seems to have no particular logic in the disc, is elegantly played, and serves as some sort of an interlude between the cantatas Mein Herz ist bereit and Cantata Domino. I have not checked the keys of each piece, but it seems that the cantatas were mostly performed in Chorton, as they would most likely have been done in Luebeck in Buxtehude's time. The performance of the Purcell Quartet alone deserves the purchase of the disc, not to mention the beautiful baroque voices of Suzie LeBlanc, Emma Kirkby, and Peter Harvey. The CD booklet has comprehensive information about Buxtehude and the works included, translations of cantatas in three languages, biographies and photos of the soloists and the Purcell Quartet. A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED recording.

Buxtehude: Sacred Cantatas, Vol 2 /Purcell Quartet

Average customer rating:

A voice teacher early music fan

Buxtehude: Sacred Cantatas, Vol 2 /Purcell Quartet

Manufacturer: Chandos Chaconne
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Buxtehude: Sacred Cantatas, Vol 1 /Kirkby * Leblanc * Harvey * Purcell Quartet
Buxtehude: Sacred Cantatas
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Dietrich Buxtehude: 6 Cantatas
Nikolaus Bruhns: Deutsche Kantaten

ASIN: B000AA4JA2
Release Date: 2005-09-20

Tracks:

Das Neugebor'ne Kindelein
Quemadmodum Desiderat Cervus
Nichts Soll Uns Scheiden Von Liebe Gottes
Wie Sollte Wohl Heissen Das Zeitliche Leiden
Auch Ist Kein Erschaffnes Vermogen Zu Nennen
Denn Gott Hat Die Liebe So Hoch Ja Getrieben
Sonata
Dixit Dominus Domino Meo
Juravit Dominus
Dominus A Dextris Tuis Confregit In Die Irae Suae Reges
... Conquassabit Capita In Terra Multorum
Gloria Patri Et Filio Et Spiritui Sancto
Sonata
An Filius Non Est Dei
Quin Immo Jesus Est Meus
Tu Nectar Es Verissimum
Longe Sapor Dulcissime
Amen
(Sonata)
Lobe Den Herrn, Meine Seele
Der Dir Alle Deine Sunde Vergibet
Der Deinen Mut Frohlich Macht
Alleluia
Jesu, Komm, Mein Trost Und Lachen
Sinfonia
Herr, Nun Lasst Du Deinen Diener Heiland Gesehen
...Denn Meine Augen Haben Deinen Heiland Gesehen
...Ein Licht Zu Erleuchten Die Heiden
Ciacona

Customer Reviews:

A voice teacher early music fan.......2005-12-21

Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707) was one of the three major North German composers of his era. He was also one of the most prolific composers of his time, his scope including liturgical music, cantatas and oratorical works for services and concerts, solos arias and cantatas, organ preludes, fugues, toccatas, chorale variations and fantasias , and chamber music including nineteen keyboard suites. Moreover, judging from features common in both, Buxtehude's cantata 'Jesu, meine Freude' may well have served as Bach's model for his five-part motet on the same chorale (BWV227). Though it is arguable that Buxtehude was Bach's greatest precursor, it would be foolish to think of his vast output merely as a preparation for Bach. Buxtehude's music deserves to stand at the summit of his age in its own right.
Although Buxtehude was primarily an organist, he was required as part of his church jobs to not only direct the choir occasonally but also to write some choral selections. Most of these comprised small-scale pieces such as those recorded here. It is quite possible that these pieces may have been performed during services by a chamber ensemble located in the organ loft. The prefered musical genre for private devotion at these small-scale gatherings was the strophic aria for solo voice and continuo. I found them to be very attractive and certainly well sung by the soloists, all of whom are excellent singers and obviously very skilled in the Early Music area. And, of course, the Purcell Quartet is unmatched in their ability to weave in and out of the vocal line in an exemplary fashion! I especially liked the first cantata:"Das neugebor'ne Kindelein" (Newborn today this little child) which features all 4 soloists:Kirby(sop)-Chance(countertenor)-Daniels(tenor) and Harvey(bass). And also the final cantata"Jesu dulcis memoria" (the thought of Jesus, sweet and kind) which features Chance and Harvey. It's all great music and played marvelously!!!!

Average customer rating:

Cantatas for Bass

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000002BZW
Release Date: 1996-12-10

Tracks:

Lamentatio Jeremiae Prophetae Zum Karmittwoch (Erste Lektion, Kap. I, 1-5) - Harry Van Der Kamp/Christoph Lehmann
Wie Bist Du Denn, O Gott, in Zorn Auf Mich Entbrannt (Lamento) - Harry Van Der Kamp/Margaret S. Urquhart/Christoph Lehmann
Mein Herz Ist Bereit (BuxWV 73) - Harry Van Der Kamp/Anneke Pols/Wolfgang Katschner/Christoph Lehmann
Ich Bin Die Auferstehung (BuxWV 44) - Harry Van Der Kamp/Margaret S. Urquhart/Christoph Lehmann
Kommet Her Zu Mir Alle, Die Ihr Muhselig Und Beladen Seid - Harry Van Der Kamp/Margaret S. Urquhart/Christoph Lehmann
Ich Liege Und Schlafe (SWV 310) - Harry Van Der Kamp/Wolfgang Katschner/Christoph Lehmann
Fili Mi, Absalon (SWV 269) - Harry Van Der Kamp/Christoph Lehmann/Siobhan Armstrong
Salve Coelestis Pater - Harry Van Der Kamp/Wolfgang Katschner/Christoph Lehmann
De Profundis Clamavi (Psalm 130) - Harry Van Der Kamp/Anneke Pols/Wolfgang Katschner/Christoph Lehmann
Lamentatio Jeremiae Prophetae Zum Grundonnerstag (Erste Lektion, Kap. II. 8-11) - Harry Van Der Kamp/Christoph Lehmann

The Buxtehude Project, Vol.I: Sacred Cantatas

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The Buxtehude Project, Vol.I: Sacred Cantatas

Manufacturer: PGM
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000011YA
Release Date: 1996-03-12

Average customer rating:

Re-issue of Rare German Vocal Repertoire from the 17th and 18th Centuries

German Church Cantatas and Arias

Manufacturer: Accent Plus
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000443Y
Release Date: 1999-01-01

Customer Reviews:

Re-issue of Rare German Vocal Repertoire from the 17th and 18th Centuries.......2006-06-04

As with all those recordings on which Rene Jacobs stars as countertenor, the main problem here is his voice: Although Jacobs proves himself to be delightfully musical as far as interpretatory detail is concerned, his timbre is cold and hard, and as soon as the pitch gets higher, his falsetto sounds pressed and extremely unnatural. Today, he is, in Europe, one of the most successful conductors of early music repertoire, but his days as a singer were over as soon as the art of countertenor began to produce singers whose voice sounded natural and easy.

The CD in question (“German Church Cantatas and Arias”) is a re-issue. The major portion was recorded in October, 1979, at St. Stephen’s Church in Melsen, and originally released as an LP (ACC 7912; later as a CD ACC 77912D). The last three tracks, consisting of Telemann’s cantata “Ihr Völker hört”, was recorded at the Chapelle Royale of the Protestant Church in Brussels in June, 1981, and originally appeared on the Accent LP devoted to Telemann’s “Harmonischer Gottesdienst” (ACC 8020; never issued as a CD).

The recording itself has its pros and cons. On the one hand, the instruments, played by the Kuijken Consort (S. Kuijken, J. Van der Meer, violin; W. Kuijken, A. Pols, M. Tindemans, A. Glatt, viola da gamba; R. Kohnen, organ; M. Aerts, violone; K. Junghänel, theorbo) and, for the additional Telemann cantata, by the Parnassus Ensemble (B. Kuijken, transverse flute; R. Van der Meer, cello; J. Huys, harpsichord) have been captured exceedingly clearly with a broad stereo panorama. In particular, the chamber organ has been very clearly positioned; and on “Ihr Völker hört”, the flute, positioned to the extreme left of proceedings, can be wonderfully heard. On the other hand, Jacobs’ voice, with all the disadvantages already mentioned, seems somehow superimposed on the whole, recorded, as it is, very closely, almost as though it had been taped separately and mixed in to the instrumental accompaniment later. The balance is not always quite what it should be: particularly on Johann Christoph Bach’s “Ach, dass ich Wassers g’nug haette” there seems almost to be competition between the voice and the instruments. Personally, I found listening over headphones slightly more satisfactory than in front of loudspeakers.

The music itself is unusual and fascinating. Dietrich Buxtehude (1637 – 1707) was an organist in Luebeck in the North of Germany, one of his main claims to fame being that the young J. S. Bach took time off to go and listen to one of his evening concerts. Buxtehude’s music has been steadily discovered by the early music movement; I currently have organ works played by Piet Kee on Chandos Chaconne and harpsichord works played by Mitzi Meyerson on ASV Gaudeamus. The aria “Muss der Tod denn nun doch trennen”, written on the death of Buxtehude’s father, is an extremely sombre piece accompanied almost exclusively by trembling viols producing a sound that is both ravishing and disturbing, at least on a first hearing. The contrast to “Jubilate Domine” could scarcely be greater: this second Buxtehude piece is joyful and triumphant and could not demonstrate the other side of the coin more forcefully.

Johann Christoph Bach (1642 – 1703), one of the great Bach family, is best known for his aria “Ach, dass ich Wassers g’nug haette”, a lamentation accompanied by viols, violone, organ and theorbo. Because of the balance problem mentioned above, I still prefer the first version of this that I ever heard, that by Henri Ledroit and the Ricercar Consort on the rival Belgian label Ricercar.

The Telemann pieces are rare, but demonstrate his high baroque style with alternating fast and slow movements and music that wonderfully illustrates the psalm texts that he was setting.

Schutz: 4 Sacred Concerti; 4 Symphoniae Sacrae. Buxtehude: 2 German Cantatas. Bach: 3 Lieder

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Schutz: 4 Sacred Concerti; 4 Symphoniae Sacrae. Buxtehude: 2 German Cantatas. Bach: 3 Lieder
Hugues Cuenod , and Albert Fuller
Manufacturer: Dante Records Lys
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000G2AJ
Release Date: 1999-12-01

Average customer rating:

Sacred Cantatas
Buxtehude , Graulich , and Motettenchor Stuttgart
Manufacturer: Dead Line
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B00008EYEO
Release Date: 1993-09-11

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