Bach: Motetten

• Main performer: Netherlands Radio Choir
• Booklet languages: English, French, Dutch, German, Spanish
• Libretto languages: English, French, Dutch, German, Spanish
• Time: 69:33
• Release Date: 2007

Review

This is hardboiled, take-no-prisoners Bach. In his motets, Bach refines his music's contrapuntal quintessence in settings that eschew the warm consolations of instruments for the icy purity of voices. Sung here by the 18-voice Flemish Radio Choir led by Bo Holten and accompanied very discretely by organist Bart Naessens and bassist Elsie Christanes, Bach's motets stand stark and defiant in performances of unerring accuracy and uncompromising intensity. No matter how gnarly the textures or how angular the counterpoints, the Flemish singers are equal to the challenge. Recorded in rich, ripe digital sound with just the right amount of reverb in the Jezuïtenkerk in Heverlee, Belgium, this disc should be heard by Bach fans and fans of noire music-making. ~ James Leonard, Rovi

Performances

Composer	Title	Time
Johann Sebastian Bach	Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, motet for chorus, BWV 225 (BC C1)	13:33
Johann Sebastian Bach	Komm, Jesu, komm, motet for chorus & continuo, BWV 229 (BC C3)	8:11
Johann Sebastian Bach	Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf, motet for double chorus, winds, strings & continuo, BWV 226 (BC C2)	7:25
Johann Sebastian Bach	Ich lasse dich nicht, motet for double chorus (after Johann Christoph Bach), BWV Anh. 159 (BC C9)	6:00
Johann Sebastian Bach	Fürchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir, motet for double chorus, BWV 228 (BC C4)	7:11
Johann Sebastian Bach	Jesu, meine Freude, motet for 5-part chorus, BWV 227 (BC C5)	21:09
Johann Sebastian Bach	Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden, motet for chorus & organ, BWV 230 (BC C6)	6:04

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Next:	Bach: Motetten BWV 225-230