In this episode, two recently released CDs with Christmas music: “Uns ist ein Kind geboren – Weihnachtskantaten” from L’arpa festante, conducted by Peter Gortner, and “J.S. Bach: Weihnachts-Magnificat; G.F. Handel: Utrecht Te Deum” from the RIAS Kammerchor Berlin & Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin conducted by Justin Doyle.
The first CD showcases Johann Kuhnau. He is mostly known as the direct predecessor of Bach as Cantor – choir and organ master – at the Thomaskirche, in Leipzig. Not many know he was also a gifted composer of sacred music. His oeuvre of sacred music – of which a large part has been lost – has only recently been made available on CD (label CPO).
This year a CD with two of his Christmas cantatas was released, though it’s uncertain if he actually wrote the one we will listen to.
After the cantata, some short works from Michael Praetorius and Johannes Eccard follow.
Johann Kuhnau (1660-1722) (attributed)
1. Uns ist ein Kind geboren
Michael Praetorius (1571-1621)
2. Es ist ein Ros entsprungen
Johannes Eccard (1553-1611)
3. Übers Gebirg Maria geht
Franz Vitzthum, altus. Daniel Schreiber, tenor. Florian Hartmann, bass. Chamber choir of the Christuskirche Karlsruhe, L’arpa festante conducted by Peter Gortner
(CD: “Uns ist ein Kind geboren – Weihnachtskantaten” – Christophorus CHR 77479, 2024)
The second CD features two big, separate works. The first is the Magnificat from Johann Sebastian Bach, the second the Utrecht Te Deum from George Frideric Handel.
In this programme we play the Magnificat, which has been passed down in two different versions. The first dates from 1723, when Bach composed a Magnificat in E flat major for the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (July 2nd). He returned to this work when he wrote the Vespers for Christmas Day that year and added traditional Christmas songs – following Leipzig traditions – called lauden.
We will listen to this version, which Justin Doyle chose for the recording.
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
4. Magnificat in Es (BWV 243a)
Núria Rial, Marie-Sophie Pollak, soprano. Alex Potter, altus. Kieran Carrel, tenor. Roderick Williams, bass. RIAS Kammerchor Berlin, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin conducted by Justin Doyle
(CD: “J.S. Bach: Weihnachts-Magnificat; G.F. Handel: Utrecht Te Deum” – Harmonia mundi HMM 902730, 2024)
In addition:
Michael Praetorius
5. Resonet in laudibus (instrumental version)
L’arpa festante conducted by Christoph Hesse
(CD: see 1-3)
Image: cover of the Christophorus-CD
