JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH – WEIHNACHTSORATORIUM BWV 248 – LA PETITE BANDE, SIGISWALD KUIJKEN (2014) [OFFICIAL DIGITAL DOWNLOAD DSF DSD64/2.82MHZ]January 20, 2017 · by admin · in Studio Masters
Johann Sebastian Bach – Weihnachtsoratorium BWV 248 – La Petite Bande, Sigiswald Kuijken (2014)
DSD64 (.dsf) 1 bit/2,82 MHz | Time – 02:19:19 minutes | 5,49 GB | Genre: Classical
Official Digital Download – Source: nativeDSDmusic | Digital Booklet | © Challenge Records / Northstar Recordings
The Christmas Oratorio is a series of 6 separate cantatas, collectively relating the story from Christmas through to Twelfth Night. Bach wrote the work in Leipzig in 1734 and 1735 for Christmas Day (I), Boxing day (II), the third day of Christmas (III), New Year (IV), the Sunday after New Year (V) and Twelfth Night (VI). As with the Passions, the texts here are drawn from three sources: (1) the evangelical texts (primarily Luke and Matthew) intoned by the Evangelist (tenor) as recitatives, (2) chorales from the Lutheran tradition and (3) free texts for arias and some choral passages, written by the poet Picander.
This performance is perhaps as close as presently possible to what we imagine Bach might have had in mind as he composed the work in Leipzig. First of all, we have the ‘one to a part’ aspect: historical research among the various sources clearly shows that Bach did not ask for a choir to perform his cantatas, but simply a vocal quartet. This ‘single line singing’ certainly adds to the individual expression of the text and the music’s transparency. Bach’s religious music always uses the text as its starting point and a great deal of attention is therefore paid to correct enunciation. The vocal principle of ‘one to a part’ also has a major influence on the instrumental forces.
Bach employed a small-scale string ensemble (two first violins, two second violins, one viola, one or two bass violins for the bass line and sometimes a violoncello da spalla, or shoulder cello, see below), as well as single wind instruments where appropriate, all supported by an organ, which formed the continuo in conjunction with the bass violin. And since the instrumental music is also completely permeated by the rhetoric that stems from the text, the transparency of this small ensemble intertwines itself seamlessly with the vocal lines, giving a refined polyphony that reached its zenith in Bach’s music.
Continuing to focus attention on the ‘historical truth’ of performance (in other words trying to get as close as possible to the circumstances in which the work was originally conceived and performed) is not a museum activity. Rather it is an ongoing process of questioning music in performance, erasing later habits and traditions that have survived, so that the music can once again dazzle us with its freshness and directness.
Tracklist:
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Weihnachtsoratorium BWV 248
Disc#1
[1-9] Jauchzet, frohlocket! Auf, preiset die Tage 24:37
[10-23] Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend 26:20
[24-35] Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen 21:33
Disc#2
[1-7] Fallt mit Danken, fallt met Loben 22:10
[8-18] Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen 22:40
[19-29] Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben 21:58
Personnel:
La Petite Bande, vocal and instrumental ensemble
Sigiswald Kuijken, direction
Soloists:
Sunhae Im soprano
Petra Noskaiová alto
Stephan Scherpe tenor
Jan Van der Crabben basso
Johann Sebastian Bach – Weihnachtsoratorium BWV 248 – La Petite Bande, Sigiswald Kuijken (2014)
DSD64 (.dsf) 1 bit/2,82 MHz | Time – 02:19:19 minutes | 5,49 GB | Genre: Classical
Official Digital Download – Source: nativeDSDmusic | Digital Booklet | © Challenge Records / Northstar Recordings
The Christmas Oratorio is a series of 6 separate cantatas, collectively relating the story from Christmas through to Twelfth Night. Bach wrote the work in Leipzig in 1734 and 1735 for Christmas Day (I), Boxing day (II), the third day of Christmas (III), New Year (IV), the Sunday after New Year (V) and Twelfth Night (VI). As with the Passions, the texts here are drawn from three sources: (1) the evangelical texts (primarily Luke and Matthew) intoned by the Evangelist (tenor) as recitatives, (2) chorales from the Lutheran tradition and (3) free texts for arias and some choral passages, written by the poet Picander.
This performance is perhaps as close as presently possible to what we imagine Bach might have had in mind as he composed the work in Leipzig. First of all, we have the ‘one to a part’ aspect: historical research among the various sources clearly shows that Bach did not ask for a choir to perform his cantatas, but simply a vocal quartet. This ‘single line singing’ certainly adds to the individual expression of the text and the music’s transparency. Bach’s religious music always uses the text as its starting point and a great deal of attention is therefore paid to correct enunciation. The vocal principle of ‘one to a part’ also has a major influence on the instrumental forces.
Bach employed a small-scale string ensemble (two first violins, two second violins, one viola, one or two bass violins for the bass line and sometimes a violoncello da spalla, or shoulder cello, see below), as well as single wind instruments where appropriate, all supported by an organ, which formed the continuo in conjunction with the bass violin. And since the instrumental music is also completely permeated by the rhetoric that stems from the text, the transparency of this small ensemble intertwines itself seamlessly with the vocal lines, giving a refined polyphony that reached its zenith in Bach’s music.
Continuing to focus attention on the ‘historical truth’ of performance (in other words trying to get as close as possible to the circumstances in which the work was originally conceived and performed) is not a museum activity. Rather it is an ongoing process of questioning music in performance, erasing later habits and traditions that have survived, so that the music can once again dazzle us with its freshness and directness.
Tracklist:
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Weihnachtsoratorium BWV 248
Disc#1
[1-9] Jauchzet, frohlocket! Auf, preiset die Tage 24:37
[10-23] Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend 26:20
[24-35] Herrscher des Himmels, erhöre das Lallen 21:33
Disc#2
[1-7] Fallt mit Danken, fallt met Loben 22:10
[8-18] Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen 22:40
[19-29] Herr, wenn die stolzen Feinde schnauben 21:58
Personnel:
La Petite Bande, vocal and instrumental ensemble
Sigiswald Kuijken, direction
Soloists:
Sunhae Im soprano
Petra Noskaiová alto
Stephan Scherpe tenor
Jan Van der Crabben basso
全力冲刺
