Ein Deutsches Barockrequiem

by Vox Luminis, Lionel Meunier

Overview

Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45, is a unique work in several respects, one of which is that it has no religious precedent; Lutheran liturgy does not have a requiem mass as such. Brahms assembled the texts himself, drawing on various biblical sources. Therefore, this Deutsches Barockrequiem ("German Baroque Requiem") might seem an arbitrary exercise that would have made little sense for audiences from the era in which the music originated. Vox Luminis and director Lionel Meunier searched for German Baroque settings of the same texts that Brahms used, finding them or coming close in many cases. The mode of expression is, of course, completely different, with none of the warm, humanistic flavor of the Brahms. However, the great advantage of this experiment is that it results in the unearthing of some attractive and genuinely unknown music. A few of the composers will be familiar to general listeners; the rather somber Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen ("How lovely is They dwelling place") setting is by Johann Hermann Schein. The likes of Andreas Scharmann, Thomas Selle, and Tobias Michael will likely be new to all but scholars, and the music is of remarkably consistent quality. Sample the substantial Selig sind die Toten ("Blessed are the dead") of Johann Philipp Foertsch (also a physician) from the end of the century; it is a three-section work with close stylistic ties to Buxtehude. The performances by a choir of 15, an ideal size, are richly expressive, with well-balanced organ accompaniment by Bart Jacobs. Ricercar's church sound is clear and idiomatic. An essential release for lovers of the German Baroque, this album made classical best-seller charts in the spring of 2023. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	04/14/2023
Label:	RICERCAR
UPC:	5400439004450

Tracks

1. Gedenke, Herr, wie es uns gehet
2. Und da der Sabbath vergangen war~Sinfonia
3. Selig sind die da geistlich arm sind
4. Die mit Tränen säen
5. Die Erlöseten des Herren
6. Ach, Herr, lehre doch mich
7. Ach wie gar nichts sind alle Menschen
8. Die Gerechten Seelen sind in Gottes Hand
9. Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen
10. Ich will schweigen
11. Der Tod ist verschlungen
12. Selig sind die Toten
13. Ich hebe meine Augen auf zu den Bergen

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Vox Luminis   Primary Artist,Vocal Ensemble
Lionel Meunier   Primary Artist,Conductor
Bart Jacobs   Organ
Johannes Frisch   Violin
Tuomo Suni   Violin
Sarah Van Oudenhove   Bass Viol
Nicholas Milne   Tenor Viola
Raquel Massadas   Viola
Andreas Linos   Tenor Viola
James Munro   Violone
Antina Hugosson   Viola

Technical Credits

Silvia Berutti-Ronelt   Liner Note Translation
Andreas Hammerschmidt   Composer
Heinrich Schwemmer   Composer
Malou van den Heuvel   Photography
Johann Hermann Schein   Composer
Johann Philipp Foertsch   Composer
Tobias Michael   Composer
Christian Geist   Composer
Thomas Selle   Composer
Peter Lockwood   Liner Note Translation
Albrecht Durer   Cover Illustration
Jerome Lejeune   Editing,Engineer,Artistic Director
Wolfgang Carl Briegel   Composer
Andreas Scharmann   Composer