C.P.E Bach, J.S. Bach: Magnificats / Lewis, Washington Bach Consort

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Not only are these fine performances, but the disc itself is a stroke of good programming, pairing the familiar--Johann Sebastian Bach's majestic, brilliantly conceived setting of the Magnificat--with the unfamiliar--son Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach's intriguingly lean, preclassical setting of the same text, a masterpiece of the "galant" style just as his father's is a masterpiece of the Baroque. Leading a well-trained chorus of ideal size (approximately 25) and a crack period-instrument band, conductor J. Reilly Lewis imparts energy and dramatic point to the readings of both works. Textures are full yet transparent, with an excellent balance between voices and orchestra. The work of the four soloists is elegant and expressive, and the chorus sings radiantly in both pieces. The recorded sound is excellent. --Ted Libbey

Tracks:

Magnificat in D, WQ215: Magnificat - The Washington Bach Consort/J. Reilly Lewis
Magnificat in D, WQ215: Quia Respexit - Mary Ellen Callahan
Magnificat in D, WQ215: Quia Fecit - Nils Brown
Magnificat in D, WQ215: Et Misericordia - The Washington Bach Consort/J. Reilly Lewis
Magnificat in D, WQ215: Fecit potentiam - James Weaver
Magnificat in D, WQ215: Deposuit - Patricia Green/Nils Brown
Magnificat in D, WQ215: Suscepit Israel - Patricia Green
Magnificat in D, WQ215: Gloria Patri - The Washington Bach Consort/J. Reilly Lewis
Magnificat in D, WQ215: Sicut Erat - The Washington Bach Consort/J. Reilly Lewis
Magnificat in D, BWV243: Magnificat - The Washington Bach Consort/J. Reilly Lewis
Magnificat in D, BWV243: Et Exsultativ - Patricia Green
Magnificat in D, BWV243: Quia Respexit - Mary Ellen Callahan
Magnificat in D, BWV243: Omnes - The Washington Bach Consort/J. Reilly Lewis
Magnificat in D, BWV243: Quia Fecit - James Weaver
Magnificat in D, BWV243: Et Misericordia - Patricia Green/Nils Brown
Magnificat in D, BWV243: Fecit Potentiam - The Washington Bach Consort/J. Reilly Lewis
Magnificat in D, BWV243: Deposuit Potentes - Nils Brown
Magnificat in D, BWV243: Esurientes - Patricia Green
Magnificat in D, BWV243: Suscepit Israel - The Washington Bach Consort/J. Reilly Lewis
Magnificat in D, BWV243: Sicut Locutus - The Washington Bach Consort/J. Reilly Lewis
Magnificat in D, BWV243: Gloria Patri - The Washington Bach Consort/J. Reilly Lewis

Amazon.com

Not only are these fine performances, but the disc itself is a stroke of good programming, pairing the familiar--Johann Sebastian Bach's majestic, brilliantly conceived setting of the Magnificat--with the unfamiliar--son Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach's intriguingly lean, preclassical setting of the same text, a masterpiece of the "galant" style just as his father's is a masterpiece of the Baroque. Leading a well-trained chorus of ideal size (approximately 25) and a crack period-instrument band, conductor J. Reilly Lewis imparts energy and dramatic point to the readings of both works. Textures are full yet transparent, with an excellent balance between voices and orchestra. The work of the four soloists is elegant and expressive, and the chorus sings radiantly in both pieces. The recorded sound is excellent. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

In the words of Radar O'Reilly "Ahhhhhh Bach".......2005-01-19

I discovered C.P.E. Bach's Magnificat in D back in the eighties in a University library (you could not find a recording of it for sale anywhere) and I just fell in love with it. The dramatic opening chorus is just stunning in it's power. I also love the arias, especially the "Deposuit" duet. Tying together his opening chorus with a dramatic repeat in the "Gloria patri, gloria filio, gloria spiritui sancto" followed by a stately fugue of "sicut erat" this really is a masterpiece in my opinion.

C.P.E. Bach is indeed an acquired taste for many people, but the Magnificat has a universal appeal that sets it apart. Also check out C.P.E. Bach's "Die Auferstehung und himmelfahrt jesu" from his more mature period. Composed a year before his father died, Emmanuel's magnificat naturally and stylistically stands beside his father's wonderful magnificat. However, the later vocal works from his Hamburg period stand more naturally besides Haydn and even Beethoven. Even so, Emmanuel's magnificat shows many characteristics of pre-classical rather than baroque. The "sicut erat" is the only purely polyphonic piece.

I love J.S. Bach's magnificat as well. However, this CD is worth it for Emmanuel Bach's magnificat. Very good performance by all the soloists and the orchestra does an excellent job as well.

Not just one Magnificat worth knowing.......2004-06-23

Whenever the Magnificat comes up in classical music, it's almost always in reference to Johann Sebastian Bach's setting of the Catholic Canticle of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Many composers before and after Bach have set the Magnificat, but apart from some of the earliest settings (Palestrina, di Lasso, Morales), few have been recorded.

So, this disc, which pairs the more substantial (nearly half as long again) rendering of the Magnificat by Johann Sebastian's eldest son Carl Philipp Emanuel with his own should be a most welcome addition to any collection. In fact, if you don't have a recording of either Magnificat, this may be the only one you need.

On first hearing, CPE's work had me rapt. I was floored by the festive sweep of the opening chorus. What an exciting, joyous noise coming from the pen of Bach's oldest son, who, while certainly an interesting composer, never struck me as capable of writing something so intense, so capable of pushing the right emotional buttons.

The rest of the work did not disappoint me. Having only recently become familiar with Johann Sebastian's setting via another recording, I more or less expected his son's work to be a "me too" effort. When I was finished listening, however, I was left wondering why I didn't know that CPE had set the Magnificat (heck, I knew that Beethoven had contemplated doing the same during his last great burst of productivity) and, more curiously, why it hadn't been more frequently recorded.

This recording would be worth having for Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach's Magnificat alone. Fortunately, his father's more famous setting receives an equally fine performance, making the entire CD a worthwhile production.

As a couple of other reviewers have noted, the sound is a bit reverberant (the terms 'echo-y' and 'spacey' were employed), courtesy of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C.

Finally, unless I'm mistaken, Ted Libbey, credited with the "Editorial Review" above, is also the author of this disc's program notes.

CPE Bach Rocks!, don't miss this!.......2001-08-27

I'll admit I let this CD pass through one ear & out the other a few times before I grabbed on to the rewards given a more intent listening. C.P.E. composes with a definite bit of tension in his musical line, tremendous deep-seated energy abounds. And this is really a terrific performance in vocal, instrumental & ensemble aspects. This piece absolutely swings - & you can't loose, even if CPE isn't for you, well, it's followed by an equally fine rendition of JS Bach's same-titled work. Interesting, although overall it's technically a good recording, there is indeed a little peculiar combination of a "spacey" sound yet a low recorded volume level. The main point is, get to know the CPE Bach Magnificat, top notch & under-appreciated.

CPE strong, JSB good.......2000-03-20

This is a fine recording by a wonderful group. The CPE Bach Magnificat is energetic and exciting, probably the best recording of this interesting work currently available. The sound is a bit echoy but I adjusted. A recommended recording.

Not a good choice for beginners.......1999-11-24

I bought this CD on Amazon's recommendation, as part of their "Get Started in Classical" area. It's a full CD of choral work, lots of singing and very little purely instrumental work. I chose Bach because I associate him with a very fluid and relaxing style; this was just jarring, 60 minutes of operatic style "classical." You have been warned.

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