The “Missa 1724” is actually an assemblage of various sacred works by Jan Dismas Zelenka. But to be fair, they all come from the same general period of Zelenka’s career, and they do make a convincing whole. The Kyrie, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei, ZWV 26 recycles some previous material (some only a year older than […]
choral music
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Great performances of Ignacio Jerusalem marred by recording
The Chicago Arts Orchestra and Chorus specialize in exploring the music of New Spain. Their first release was “Al Combate: Rediscovered Galant Music from Eighteen-Century Mexico.” It featured works by Ignacio Jerusalem and Santiago Billoni. This release delves deeper into Jerusalem’s repertoire, presenting a mass, a symphony, and some shorter choral works. Ignacio Jerusalem emigrated […]
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Scott Perkins – A New England Requiem a new masterwork
Any composer can write for choir. But not everyone is a choral composer. Scott Perkins certainly is a choral composer. He began his career as a tenor, and he thoroughly understands the potential of the human voice. More importantly, the potential of combined human voices. Bottom line: this is an exquisitely beautiful album of contemporary […]
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Alessandro Scarlatti Cantatas and Recorder Sonatas Nice Blend
This release presents a well-thought-out program of music by Alessandro Scarlatti. There are five works: three solo cantatas with two instrumental sonatas. The mix is quite effective — especially as the cantatas have fairly extensive instrumental passages. Soprano Roberta Invernizzi sings with a clean, clear sound. Even her upper register has a warmth I found […]
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Roxanna Panufnik — Love Abide an exotic blend
There are several things I’ve come to expect from a Roxanna Panufnik choral composition. Music that realizes the full potential of the human voice. Music that’s beautifully crafted with innovative harmonies and voice leading. Music with a carefully chosen text and usually — taken in context with the music — has a profound message. “Love […]
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Early Telemann cantatas still show great skill
This release features three Georg Philipp Telemann works for countertenor. More precisely, it presents three early works by Telemman (for countertenor). Not that I could hear much difference. Telemann in his twenties was already a skilled composer. There are no awkward moments in any of these works. And while his style grew in complexity, these pieces benefit […]
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Early Beethoven cantatas hint at greatness
The Emporer is dead, long live the Emporer. In 1790 a nineteen-year-old Ludwig van Beethoven was commissioned to write two cantatas. The first was an elegy for Emperor Joseph II. The second for Leopold II, who inherited the throne. Maestro Leif Segerstam presents both works. It continues Naxos’s series of Beethoven choral works. Apparently, the […]
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Homilius Christmas Cantatas beat the rush
This release had me scratching my head. Why was an album of Advent and Christmas music released in February? Most folks (even me) have our Christmas decorations dismantled and packed away for another year. Of course, these cantatas by Gottfried August Homilius don’t really have a Christmassy sound. Homilius wrote in the empfindsamer style, which supplanted the […]
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Ecco la Musica perform Johann Samuel Welter cantatas credibly
Johann Samuel Welter is the only name on the cover of this release. But he’s not the only composer features. The early music ensemble Ecco la Musica presents a varied program of music from 17th Century Germany. Five of Welter’s choral cantatas are interspersed with instrumental works, by some of Welter’s older contemporaries. Welter’s considered […]