Search - Dietrich Buxtehude, Wilhelm Ehmann, Bachorchester Berlin :: Buxtehude: Cantatas

Abendmusiken

Anthony H. Conroy | Melbourne Australia | 02/24/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Unlike the prolific Bach Cantatas of which there are many recorded versions available.

The same cannot be said for Buxtehude though he was known to have composed

masses of vocal music as well as Keyboard Works, sadly what we have available on disc

is typically what has survived, as a large portion of Buxtehude's compositions have been lost. Although many of the librettos have survived , but not the all important scores.

This CD contains some identical contents performed by the Greifswald Cathedral Choir & the

Berlin Bach Orchestra conducted by Hans Pflugbeil, available on a cd called

"Abendmusik"and available from The Baroque Music Club in Canada. This is wonderful Lutheran music very rich in sound as they are all for the most part performed by a full choir & stringed instruments.

These Cantatas are very refreshing in in their simplicity. They were from what i can gather recorded in the 60's. I was so happy to find this gem of a disc and that from an audio standpoint the Re-mastering sounds very transparent with excellent clarity.

Other worthwhile recordings to compliment this are:

another also called "Abendmusik" performed by the Goteborg Baroque Arts Ensemble on the Swedish Intim Musik label (IMCD 070)

and 6 Cantatas performed by Orchestra Anima Eterna Collegium Vocale

on the Channel Classics label ( CCS7895) which are both available on Amazon

Who knows what might turn up in an Ancient Lübeck attic one day, perhaps more of this Heavenly Music."