Buxtehude: Jubilate Domino; Jesu, Meine Freud und Lust

1. Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne (Eternal Source of Light Divine), HWV 74
Composed by George Frideric Handel
with Robert King , James Bowman , King's Consort

2. Jubilate Domino, Omnis Terra, for alto, viola da gamba & continuo, BuxWV 64
Composed by Dietrich [composer] Buxtehude
with Robert King , James Bowman , King's Consort

3. Ach, daß ich Wassers genug hätte, vocal concerto
Composed by Johann Christoph Bach
with Robert King , James Bowman , King's Consort

4. Jesu meine Freud und Lust, for alto, 2 violins, violetta & continuo, BuxWV 59
Composed by Dietrich [composer] Buxtehude
with Robert King , James Bowman , King's Consort

5. Maria starke Sonnen, for contralto, violin & contino
Composed by Georg Matthias Monn
with Robert King , James Bowman , King's Consort

6. Weil, Jesu, ich in meinen Sinn
Composed by Johann Wolfgang Franck
with Robert King , James Bowman , King's Consort

7. Laßt uns all' Mariam loben!
Composed by Georg Matthias Monn
with Robert King , James Bowman , King's Consort

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

Average customer rating:

a voice teacher and early music fan

Klaglied: German Sacred Concertos

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005J71B
Release Date: 2001-06-26

Tracks:

Ach, Dass Ich Wassers Gnug Hatte: Lamento, Adagio Con Discrezione - Michael Chance/The Purcell Qt/Clare Salaman/Rachel Byrt
Vater Unser, Der Du Bist Im Himmel: Sinf - [ ] - Sinf - [ ] - Sinf - [ ] - Allegro - Michael Chance/The Purcell Qt
Wenn Ich, Herr Jesu, Habe Dich, BuxWV 107: Sonatina - [ ] - Michael Chance/The Purcell Qt
Son, BuxWV 266 in C: Adagio - Allegro - Adagio - Solo - Allegro - Adagio - Allegro - Adagio -... - Michael Chance/The Purcell Qt
Jesu, Meine Freud Und Lust, BuxWV 59: [ ] - Largo - Allegro - Michael Chance/The Purcell Qt/Clare Salaman
Erbarm Dich Mein, O Herre Gott, SWV 447: Sinf - Solo - Michael Chance/The Purcell Qt/Rachel Byrt/Clare Salaman
Auf, Lasst Uns Den Herren Loben: Sinf - [ ] - Michael Chance/The Purcell Qt/Clare Salaman/Rachel Byrt
Jubilate Domino, BuxWV 64: Son. Allegro - [ ] - Adagio - Vivace - Michael Chance/The Purcell Qt
Son, BuxWV 271 in G: Allegro - Solo. Adagio - Allegro - Adagio - Adagio A 3 - Allegro - Solo.... - The Purcell Qt
Klaglied, BuxWV 76/2 - Michael Chance/The Purcell Qt/Susanna Pell/William Hunt

Customer Reviews:

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2005-12-22

Klaglied (Lament) sets the tone for this excellent disc by Chandos. The "aria" both sacred and secular was utilized by several mid-17th century composers such as Geist and Buxtehude whose music can be heard on this recording.By the 1660's devotion had become more subjective centered on the individual's emotional experience of God.The affective and accessible style of the aria was perfect for conveying the sweetness of personal communion with God, as well as humility before his might. Man's relationship with God makes for "heavy" text and emotional music. But Michael Chance and the Purcell Quartet are up to the challenge. On this disc are 4 vocal works by Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707). They are: 'Jesu, meine Freud und Lust'Bux WV59 (Jesu, My Joy and My Desiring) in which we hear an ecstatic, almost mystical poem, senuously tasting Jesus' 'kiss' and 'nectar'. This is performed in a dance meter, the voice alternating with the strings.'Wenn ich, Herr Jesu, habe dich,'BuxWV107 (If I have you, Lord Jesus) again stresses the believer's personal relationship with Jesus, this time in a simple strophic song with string ritornello.
'Klaglied, BuxWV76/2'(Lament) in which the emotion intensifies as Buxtehude sets his own elegy on the death of his father in 1674. The 'Klaglied' has a simple but plaintive tune with many heartfelt descending leaps and has a contrapuntal string accompaniment.
'Jubilate Domino,BuxWV64' is a big contrast to the previous works; in fact it is a virtuoso showpiece,perhaps written for an Italian castrato. It uses the concerted style, with the singer chasing a virtuostic viola di gamba part through the musical texture.
Christian Geist(1650?-1711) in his work 'Vater unser, der du bist im Himmel' (The Lord's Prayer) did not use the aria style, but rather sets the Lutheran chorale that paraphrases 'the Lord's Prayer'.
The three remaining vocal pieces on this disc are by central German composers: 'Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott'SWV447(Have pity on me, O Lord)by Heinrich Schutz is one of his few settings of a Chorale. He accompanies it with a rich, dissonant string texture.
'Auf,Last uns den Herren loben'(come let us praise the Lord)Johann Michael Bach composed this morning hymn in the fashionable, tuneful aria style, thanking God for deliverance from perils of life and war.
'Ach, dafs ich Wassers gnug, hatte'(Oh that I had tears enough) Johann Christoph Bach sets a deeply penitential text drawn from the psalms and the Lamentations of Jeremiah.

Of the many recordings of these arias, and I have 2 others, this is the BEST!!!!!!. The main reason is, of course,Michael Chance. His vast experience singing all genre of music come through in a big way when he sings this very difficult and demanding music. He is a master at conveying the vast and varied emotional content that this music demands. Combine this with his flawless diction and his UNIQUE tone quality, an you know that you are getting the perfect performance. Of course, he has a marvelous group on this disc with him : the Purcell Quartet. They are top-notch in every way, able to read every nuance of the music, not only when accompanying, but also in soloing. What a wonderful treat for the early music lover!!!!!!!

German 17th Century Church Music / Robin Blaze / Parley of Instruments (Hyperion)

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German 17th Century Church Music / Robin Blaze / Parley of Instruments (Hyperion)

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000IXWL
Release Date: 1999-05-11