Search - Heinrich Schutz, Michael Altenburg, Christoph Demantius :: Angst der Hellen und Friede der Seelen

Not just for academics - some good music here

10/02/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In 1623 a Saxon nobleman, Burckhard Grossman, published 16 settings he had commissioned of Psalm 116 in German. In 1994, following the rediscovery of a copy of the 1623 edition in Poland, a critical edition of all 16 motets was published and in August of the same year Helbich, in cooperation with Mitteldeutsche Rundfunk, made this first ever recording.Naturally anyone considering buying this 3CD set wants to know how well the 13 unknowns on the discs compare with the big names Schutz, Praetorius and Schein. Well, it has to be admitted that not all the music stands shoulder to shoulder with the impressive opening on track 1 of disc 1 - Schutz' six part motet. Nevertheless there are some discoveries, including four members of the Michael family, who fill most of disc 2, and Christoph Demantius, otherwise only familiar from the LaPlenie 1990 recording of a short St. John Passion on Erato. While 16 settings of the same psalm may be a bit much for one sitting there is some music here that is not just 'context' for Schutz. Full texts and translations. Playing time 66'27" 66'43" 55'54"."