CD Spotlight. Hope and Faith - J S Bach's Leipzig Chorales, reviewed by Patric Standford. '... the performances are exquisite.'

<<< << -- 2 -- Patric Standford HOPE AND FAITH

The fantasia on Schmüke dich, o liebe Seele ('Adorn yourself, dear soul') which closes Cantata 180 and appears as the fourth in this cycle, so delighted Mendelssohn that Schumann remembered him saying 'around the cantus firmus hung winding wreaths of golden leaves from within which such blissfulness breathed that, if life was bereft of all hope and faith, this one piece would restore them ...' [listen -- CD1 track 7, 0:00-1:35].

The short prelude on Komm, Gott Schöpfer, heiliger Geist ('Come, God the creator, Holy Ghost') is an elaboration of the same in the Orgelbüchlein from his time in Weimar. The final immensely sad fantasia, Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein ('When we are in deepest need'), though begun some time earlier, is said to be the last music he dictated [listen -- CD2 track 15: 0.00-1.01]. The notes, though brief and with a few small errors, are useful.

Bach - The Leipzig Chorales

STR 33754 DDD Stereo FIRST RELEASE (2 CDs) 61'41"/57'31" - TT 119'12" 2006 Stradivarius

Claudio Astronio, organ; Concentus Vocalis Griensis (Gaby Morandell, Barbara Pichler, Eva Torggler, Johanna Veit, sopranos, Karin Demetz, Luise Pamer, Angela Prucker, Magdalena von Mörl, altos, Andreas Ellecosta, Peter Marsoner, Robert Mur, Martin Unterhofer, tenors, Roland Cont, Gebhard Piccolruaz, Karl Heiny Troi, Konrad Unterhofer, basses); P Urban Stillhardt, conductor

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): Komm, heiliger Geist, Herre Gott; Fantasia super Kommm, heiliger Geist in organo pleno, il canto fermo nel pedale BWV 651; Komm heiliger Geist Alio modo, à 2 claviers et pédale BWV 652; Am Wasserflüssen Babylon; An Wasserflüssen Babylon à 2 claviers et pédale BWV 653; Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele; Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele à 2 claviers et pédale BWV 654; Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend; Trio super Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wwend, in organo pleno, il canto fermo nel pedale BWV 655; O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig; O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig 3 versus BWV 656; Nun danket alle Gott; Nun danket alle Gott à 2 claviers et pédale, il canto fermo nel soprano BWV 657; Von Gott will ich nicht lassen; Von Gott will ich nicht lassen, il canto fermo nel pedale BWV 658; Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland; Nun komm der Heiden Heiland à 2 claviers et pédale BWV 659; Trio super Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland a due bassi e canto fermo BWV 660; Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland in Organo pleno il canto fermo nel pedale BWV 661; Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr; Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr à 2 claviers et pédale, il canto fermo nel soprano BWV 662; Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr à 2 claviers et pédale, il canto fermo nel tenore BWV 663; Trio super Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr à 2 claviers et pédale BWV 664; Jesus Christus, unser Heiland; Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, sub communione, pedaliter BWV 665; Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, Alio modo BWV 666; Komm, Gott, Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist; Komm, Gott, Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist, in organo pleno con pedale obligato BWV 667; Vor deinen Thron tret ich hiemit; Wenn wir in höchten Nöten sein BWV 668a

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GILLIAN WEIR PLAYS BACH AT ST THOMAS' LEIPZIG

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