Search - Heinrich Schutz, Dresden Kreuzchor, Dresdner Kreuzchor :: Heinrich Schütz: Psalms Of David

Good worship music, like Mauersberger always does

06/29/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The reviews on Mauersberger tend to show one's perspective on music in general. Those who see Schütz mostly in terms of style period usually are happier with other conductors. However, those like myself who view Schütz as providing music for worship in the Lutheran church in Germany tend to be quite satisfied with the Mauersberger recordings. Mauersberger always makes the biblical texts come alive. One element that Mauersberger brings to Schütz that some more "scholarly" versions cannot is the intense faith that holds on in difficult circumstances (Schütz the 30 Years War, Mauersberger having to deal with Nazi and Communist governments. My favorite selection on this CD is Psalm 111 (tr 11) with chorus and full orchestra. The interpretation has both power (essential to any good German music) and sensitivity that is essential to Schütz. I wish Berlin Classics would provide both German and English texts for this music, although one could find those texts from the Net or else from their personal Bibles. I also wish BC would be more careful in avoiding duplications."