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American Record Guide: (07/2017) 
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RIC376



Code-barres / Barcode : 5400439003767

( classicalacarte + ID605 )

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Most CDs come with a booklet, sized about 4 7/8 x 5 1/2. Here, though, you get what looks like a real book: 5 1/4 x 8 1/4, hard-bound and 104 pages long; the discs are tucked in the front and back covers. The “book” contains a short history of Martin Luther and music of the Reformation. The history part runs only 8 pages, notes on the pieces take another 10, and there are pictures. The remainder of the book includes texts and translations, as well as translations of the essay material into French and German (with lots more pictures). The CDs include the vocal works of 13 composers and organ works of 7. The oldest composer here, next to Luther himself, is Balthasar Resinarius (c. 1485-1544), and the youngest is Christoph Bernhard (1628-92). Most popular is Scheidt, with 6 pieces, followed by Schütz and Michael Praetorius with 3 and several with 2. (There is nothing of JS Bach, who was born too late for inclusion.)

The first disc contains selections running through the church year, beginning with Advent (Michael Altenburg’s ‘Nun komm der Heiden Heiland’. The second disc has music for the foundations of the Lutheran liturgy. Here we have a German Magnificat (Schütz) and Mass (Bernhard), as well as music for the sacraments, the Passion, and so forth. The notes by Jerome Lejeune are uncommonly detailed and informative. Musically everything is top notch. The choir consists of 6 sopranos, 2 counter-tenors, 4 tenors, and 3 basses, but not everyone sings

every piece, so balances are fine. The organ pieces were recorded at Saint Vincent’s church in Ciboure (in the Pyrenees section of southern France), and the ones for organ with voices were recorded in Notre-Dame church in Gedinne, Belgium. Both are modern instruments by Dominique Thomas, and they sound splendid.

This is a wonderful collection of music, much of it new to me. Numerous pieces could be cited as high points, but I was particularly drawn to the Schütz Deutsches Magnificat, written in Venetian style, and the Joachim a Burck Johannes Passion, which is the oldest Lutheran setting of the passion that is completely polyphonic (published in 1568).
 

This is an obvious perfect gift for your musical friends who are Lutheran, but it should have appeal to all who love pre-Bach music for organ and choir. It is made doubly attractive by the luxurious book and the interesting, scholarly notes. A terrific job all around!

 

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