Bach: Lutheran Masses Vol.1

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
In 1979 it was inconceivable; even in 1989 it seemed radical if not ridiculous. By 1999, however, performing Bach's choral music with one singer and player per part had started to catch on. Around 1982 Joshua Rifkin first argued that Bach composed most of his sacred music for an ensemble of soloists; when Rifkin recorded the Mass in B Minor that way, he had few defenders and many outraged detractors. Gradually other Baroque specialists such as Andrew Parrott and Jeffrey Thomas tried this approach; now the (augmented) Purcell Quartet presents Bach's four brief "Lutheran" Masses with top-notch soloists--Volume 1 is not only a sterling example of one-on-a-part Bach, it's an outstanding performance, period. The singers blend beautifully with the early instruments, Susan Gritton (the only mainstream opera singer of the bunch) in particular keeping her vibrato well under control. Once you hear, say, the Kyrie of the G Minor Mass, in which each singer in turn takes up the winding fugue subject from the first oboe, or the A Major Mass, in which the flutes take up a fugue subject from the singers and (for once) are audible, a choral performance of these pieces may seem odd. --Matthew Westphal

Bach: Lutheran Masses Vol.1, Music, Johann Sebastian Bach, Alexandra Bellamy, Robin Blaze, Peter Buckoke, Susan Gritton, Peter Harvey, Catherine Latham, Mark Padmore, Jane Rogers, Stephen Preston, The Purcell Quartet, Sinéad Bradbeer, Choral, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Classical Vocals, Mass
Bach: Lutheran Masses Vol.1
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Beautiful reditions and performances
  • Outstanding Performance
  • A milestone
  • they tried their best: but the performance is poor
 Bach: Lutheran Masses Vol.1
Peter Harvey , Catherine Latham , Mark Padmore , Jane Rogers , Stephen Preston , The Purcell Quartet , and Sinéad Bradbeer
Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by J.S. BachAll Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
MassesMasses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Bach: Lutheran Masses, Vol. 2
  2. Luther: German Hymn Mass / Chorales
  3. Martin Luther & The Music
  4. Musik der Reformation: Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott
  5. Handel: Dettingen Te Deum

ASIN: B00000J8QP
Release Date: 1999-06-22

Tracks:

  1. Mass, BWV 235: Kyrie
  2. Mass, BWV 235: Gloria
  3. Mass, BWV 235: Gratias
  4. Mass, BWV 235: Domine Fili
  5. Mass, BWV 235: Qui tollis
  6. Mass, BWV 235: Cum Sancto Spiritu
  7. Mass, BWV 234: Kyrie
  8. Mass, BWV 234: Gloria
  9. Mass, BWV 234: Domine Deus
  10. Mass, BWV 234: Qui tollis peccata mundi
  11. Mass, BWV 234: Quoniam tu solus
  12. Mass, BWV 234: Cum Sancto Spiritu

Amazon.com

In 1979 it was inconceivable; even in 1989 it seemed radical if not ridiculous. By 1999, however, performing Bach's choral music with one singer and player per part had started to catch on. Around 1982 Joshua Rifkin first argued that Bach composed most of his sacred music for an ensemble of soloists; when Rifkin recorded the Mass in B Minor that way, he had few defenders and many outraged detractors. Gradually other Baroque specialists such as Andrew Parrott and Jeffrey Thomas tried this approach; now the (augmented) Purcell Quartet presents Bach's four brief "Lutheran" Masses with top-notch soloists--Volume 1 is not only a sterling example of one-on-a-part Bach, it's an outstanding performance, period. The singers blend beautifully with the early instruments, Susan Gritton (the only mainstream opera singer of the bunch) in particular keeping her vibrato well under control. Once you hear, say, the Kyrie of the G Minor Mass, in which each singer in turn takes up the winding fugue subject from the first oboe, or the A Major Mass, in which the flutes take up a fugue subject from the singers and (for once) are audible, a choral performance of these pieces may seem odd. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Beautiful reditions and performances.......2006-12-22

I have listened to this CD over and over again and enjoy it more each time. I disagree that these performances are sub-par in any way. I find the blending of the voices and the music soothing and well done. On more than one occasion I have even been brought to tears.

5 out of 5 stars Outstanding Performance.......2003-04-02

The One Voice Per Part theory of Joshua Rifkin. The minimalist "Essential Bach 'Choir'" by Andrew Parrot. It looks like hell on paper. A terrible proposition. A seeming disregard for Bach's intentions (which Parrott disproves in his book on the subject). But does the same hold true when it is actually put in practice?

In my opinion, it does not. Since this "revolution" in the way we perform Bach's concerted choral works production of exceedingly beautiful records using Rifkin's theory have prooven that the sound of the smallest possible ensemble (the size Bach likely had to his availability during his lifetime) is not only aesthetically positive, but essential. Essential in that each voice (both vocal and instrumental) is heard.

This recording of the Lutheran Masses only confirms the ever growing favor of OVPP recordings. It boasts top rate soloists as well a clearly virtuosic group of instrumentalists.

These are meticulous performances. The 16th note violin runs in the Gloria of the g-minor mass are effortless. OVPP allows also for more quick tempi which makes for a more gripping listening experience. The singers are all first rate.

5 out of 5 stars A milestone.......2000-02-08

As a rare one-voice-per-part recording (OVPP), this is a milestone in the history of Bach performances. The close recorded sound will not be to everyone's liking (BBC Music certainly didn't appreciate this aspect of the recording), but as Matthew Westphal's glowing review suggests, not everybody will find it objectionable either. I greatly respect Westphal's insightful comments, so when a friend forwarded me Westphal's e-mail suggesting other OVPP recordings of Bach, I went out and bought most of them. The comparison gave me a new perspective on this recording. I had bought this recording for the soloists, without knowing anything about the raging OVPP debate (both Gramophone and BBC Music have recently featured vigorous exchanges on the subject). In fact, my first response to this recording was incredulity. I had heard OVPP performances of Renaissance masses and Venetian vespers, but I had no idea that this approach could also work in Bach. Now, having heard a number of OVPP interpretations of Bach, and having read the arguments in favor of the approach, I am a convert. As this recording demonstrates, performing Bach with solo voices reveals hidden structural nuances and adds a more intimate dimension to the genius of the score. It also lets you enjoy the beautiful vocal timbres of the individual soloists, if you're into that sort of thing. In that regard, this recording presents four voices about as beautiful as they get! Their impressive vocal contributions, coupled with delightful instrumental playing, make this recording a compelling testament to the merits of the OVPP approach. gkolomietz@yahoo.com

1 out of 5 stars they tried their best: but the performance is poor.......2000-01-08

These Bach "small masses" are masterpieces, but the present recording is not very good. Have the performers not listened to an Eterna edition vinyl recording from DDR? These masses should really sing, like Domine Deus (track 9).
I am now rewriting this review. Anybody who gives this recording a high rating has little idea about how Bach should sound. Yes, there is plenty of snobs, who want to sound educated by writing "educated" review. The fact is: this performance is poor, no matter how many snobs give it 5 stars.
Rewriting again, because I cannot believe that people have so little taste for Bach: guys, do yourself a favor, buy JS Bach Masses BWV 233-236, Berlin Classics label, available from Amazon, listen to it, then listen to this CD. If then you cannot hear the difference, go to the doctor.

Music Review:

  1. Bach: Sonatas & Partitas for Unaccompanied Violin
  2. Bach: The Six Motets
  3. Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1
  4. Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 - 5, Violin Romances, Piano Sonatas, etc. [Import]
  5. Berg: Wozzeck
  6. Berlioz: Overtures
  7. Brahms: Klavierquintett Op. 34
  8. Brahms - Piano Concerto No. 1 · Three Intermezzi / Andsnes · Birmingham SO · Rattle
  9. Brahms: Piano Quartet No. 1, Schumann: Piano Quintet
  10. Brahms, Schumann: Symphony No. 1 / Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

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