Bach: Mass In B Minor BWV 232

On this CD:

1. Mass in B minor, BWV 232
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Vienna Singverein with James Galway, Thomas Brandis, Robert Eliscu, Eberhard Finke, Gundula Janowitz, Robert Kerns, Christa Ludwig, Gunter Piesk, Gunter Prill

Tracks:

Toccata In D Minor For Organ
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F: I. Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G: I. Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 In D: II. Affetuoso
Concerto For 2 Violins In D Minor: I. Vivace
Concerto For 2 Violins In D Minor: II. Adagio
Violin Concerto No. 1 In A Minor: I. Allegro
Violin Concerto No. 2 In E: I. Allegro
Magnificat In D: Magnificat
Magnificat In D: Deposuit potentes
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I: Prelude 1
Concerto For 3 Harpsichords In C: II. Adagio
Concerto For 2 Harpsichords In C Minor: II. Adagio
Concerto For 4 Harpsichords In A Minor: First Movement
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Toccata, Adagio & Fugue In C: II. Adagio
Partita No. 3 For Solo Violin: Prelude
2-Part Invention: No. 8 In F
Wachet Auf: Sleepers Awake
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G: III. Presto
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F: III. Allegro assai
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 In D: III. Allegro
Orchestral Suite No. 2 In B Minor: VII. Badinerie
Mass In B Minor: Gloria
Mass In B Minor: Dona Nobis Pacem

Customer Reviews:

Just what you would expect.......2007-05-19

I was looking for a CD of exclusively Bach music, not necessarily played by a famous artist or orchestra. This had a lot of his well-known pieces and was exactly what I was looking for.

Wonderful collection and price!.......2007-05-11

I found this to be a nice collection of favorites, especially to keep in the car and listen to. It is a variety of well known compilations. Although not encompassing, it is perfect as a review for driving, relaxing, and enjoyment. Plus, the price is right!

Like Floating On A Cloud.......2006-09-20

My first real appreciation of this sound was from watching the film "Slaughterhouse Five" in the theater, back in the '70s. That soundtrack was just a taste of what you get with this recording. My family pops this CD in the car stereo on long trips, and glide down the highway to some original smooth grooves. Helps the miles pass swiftly. Music for the soul.

Bach.......2006-08-27

Surely you don't need me to review the guy. You know who he is, you've heard his music, and I hope you own some. So let me turn the podium over to a cat named Picasso, and you can read into that whatever you wish. She's in a chair, near the CD player. She has entered the room specifically for the music. Her eyes are squinted, almost but not quite shut, little face concentrating on just how contented those sounds make her feel. Nobody can say why they move her so, any more than we can say why they move us so. If we knew the answer to that one, we'd copy the guy. But anyway, she loves the music, and don't you dare make a sound such as squeaking your computer chair. If you do, her golden orbs will open, fix upon your face, and shame you. Yes they will. But if you are quiet long enough, you can watch a little calico sleep, with the very same sweet kitten face that drew you to her five years ago. Bach is gooooood.

Good CD, especially for novices.......2005-10-12

I was looking for a recommended Bach CD - certain music by a certain orchestra - and stumbled on this. It is an excellent choice for a new library. I think when there was more than one movement to a piece, it would have made more sense to go ahead and keep the movements together instead of separating them, but a novice listener would not notice. A great way to become exposed to a great composer.

Average customer rating:

so amazing
Essential Bach is OK
Excellent collection of mostly recognizeable music
Exquisite Essential Bach
Good

Essential Bach

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004SPLF
Release Date: 2000-06-13

Tracks:

Toccata And Fugue In D Minor: Toccata in D minor
Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D Major: Air
Prelude in C major
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G Major: Allegro
Goldberg Variations: Aria
Sleepers Awake: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Violin Concerto No.1 In A Minor: I Allegro moderato
Jesu, joy of man's desiring
Keyboard Concerto No.4: Allegro: I Allegro
Cello Suite No.3: Bourees I & II: Bourrees I And II
Concerto for Oboe & Violin In C Minor: Adagio
Mass In B minor: Crucifixus
Cello Suite No.1 in G Major: Praeludium
French Suite No.5 in G major: Gigue
Prelude in D Minor
Brandenburg Concerto No.5 In D Major: III Allegro
Matthaus-Passion: St Matthew Passion

Tracks:

Brandenberg Concerto No.2 In F Major: I Allegro
Concerto For 2 Violins In D Minor: II Largo, ma non tanto
Lute Suite In E Major: Prelude
Cantata: Sheep may safely graze
Cello Sonata In G Minor: II Adagio (excerpt)
Italian Concerto In F Major: II Allegro
Weihnachtsoratorium: Pastoral sinfonia
Violin Concerto No.1 In A Minor: II Andante
Partita No.1 In B Flat Major: Gigue
Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor: Menuet
Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor: Badinerie
Oboe Concerto In F Major: Siciliano
Brandenberg Concerto No.3 In G Major: I Allegro
Violin Partita No.2 In D Minor: Allemande
Violin Partita No.2 In D Minor: Gigue
Keyboard Concerto No.2 In E Major: I Allegro (excerpt)
Cantata: Sanctify us by thy goodness
Keyboard Concerto No.5 In F Minor: II Largo
Concerto In A Minor: I Allegro

Amazon.com

It is not possible to fit 36 Bach masterpieces on two CDs, so what Essential Bach does is present individual movements from across a range of the composer's work. The anthology is clearly aimed at the newcomer, and the absence of booklet notes to put the music in context is disappointing. We are only given titles, performers, and what films the extracts have been featured in, from Rollerball to The English Patient.

On the plus side, most if not all of the music is instantly recognizable, by melody if not by name. Everything from the Brandenburg Concertos to "Air on a G String" to the B Minor Mass and St. Matthew Passion is represented. Performances range from 1960 to 1993, encompassing both early instrument and modern orchestra interpretations by a wide variety of forces, including Sir Neville Marriner with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and Raymond Leppard leading the English Chamber Orchestra. Given such diversity the result is unavoidably a patchwork, albeit one made from the finest materials, and as such is perhaps best treated as a sampler to aid exploration of the vast legacy of one of the very greatest composers who ever lived. --Gary S. Dalkin, Amazon.co.uk

Customer Reviews:

so amazing .......2006-06-14

I love this kind of playing. this is my favorite classical cd.

Essential Bach is OK.......2005-09-29

This is a good basic primer. A true Bach lover might find a better selection/orchestra.

Excellent collection of mostly recognizeable music.......2005-03-18

LOVE LOVE LOVE this 2-CD set. I bought I a awhile back and have enjoyed it very much. My toddler likes it too. I think it's a great value for the money and may have to get another copy if this one wears out.

Exquisite Essential Bach.......2005-02-01

Value and exquisite sampler of Bach on two CD's at an affordable price. Recorded by the likes primarily of Academy of the St. Martin-in-the-fields, Chicago Sympony, Boston Symphony, English Chamber Orchestra and with virtuoso performers as William Bennett, Heinz Hollinger, Pepe Romero, and Wolfgang Rubsam, one gets treated to wonderful Bach exerpts of all his fantastic breath and depth of chamber, symphony and choral works.

One will have to go to other places to find background on these marvelous compositions as the liner notes only list perfomer and date recorded.

Good.......2004-07-13

This is a good album but for information on real choral music visit www.freewebs.com/bachster67/

The Swingle Singers - Bach Hits Back ~ A Capella Amadeus

Average customer rating:

Flats and Sharps
Still new... and fantastic
A Swingle Singers Half Treasure -
A capella reigns
Best Swingles Ever

The Swingle Singers - Bach Hits Back ~ A Capella Amadeus
Johann Sebastian Bach , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , and The Swingle Singers
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
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ASIN: B00000632P
Release Date: 1998-05-05

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Ein' feste Burg - Johann Sebastian Bach_
Organ Fugue from Fantasia and fugue - Johann Sebastian Bach_
The Well -Tempered Clavier: Prelude XVIII - Johann Sebastian Bach_
Cantata No. 140: Chorale prelude from Cantata No. 140 'Wachet Auf' - Johann Sebastian Bach_
Wachet Auf: Chorale from 'Wachet Auf' - Johann Sebastian Bach_
Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier - Johann Sebastian Bach_
In Dulci Jubilo - Chorale Prelude - Johann Sebastian Bach_
In Dulci Jubilo - Chorale - Johann Sebastian Bach_
Andante fromSonata No. 2 for unaccompanied violin - Johann Sebastian Bach_
First movement from Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 - Johann Sebastian Bach_
Cantata No. 208: Schafe konnen Sicher Weiden (Sheep May Safely Graze) from Cantata No. 208 - Johann Sebastian Bach_
Badinerie from Suite No. 2 - Johann Sebastian Bach_
Fugue VIII fromThe Well-Tempered Clavier - Johann Sebastian Bach_
Three - Part Invention - Johann Sebastian Bach_
Mass In B Minor: Et Resurrexit from Mass in B minor - Johann Sebastian Bach_
Bist Du Bei Mir - Johann Sebastian Bach_
St. Mathew Passion: Blute Nur, Du Liebes Herz - Johann Sebastian Bach_
Organ Fugue: Alla Gigue - Johann Sebastian Bach_
Suite No. 3: Air from Suite No. 3 (Air on a G String) - Johann Sebastian Bach_
Little Organ Fugue - Johann Sebastian Bach_
Cantata No. 60: Es Ist Genug from Cantata No. 60 - Johann Sebastian Bach_

Tracks:

Symphony No. 40: Die Zauberflote - Overture - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Symphony No. 40: I Molto Allegro - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Symphony No. 40: II Andante - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Symphony No. 40: III Minuetto: allegretto - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Symphony No. 40: IV Finale: Allegro assai - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Ave Verum Corpus - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
String Quartet In G Major: Finale from String Quartet in G major - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Cosi fan tutte: Un' Aura Amorosa from Cost fan tutte - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik: Finale: Rondo from Eine kleine Nachtmusik - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
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Piano Sonata In A Major: Finale: Alla Turca from Piano Sonata in A major - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
Fantasia In F Minor And Major - Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus

Customer Reviews:

Flats and Sharps.......2007-05-18

I enjoy the Swingle Singers very much but sadly, in this album they are flat on about half of the tracks. When they are on key, they are very, very good. When they are flat they are awful. Recommendation: buy a different Swingle Singers CD.

Still new... and fantastic.......2007-03-25

As time goes by, these recordings seem to become better and better. Fresh, perfect... fantastic CD.

A Swingle Singers Half Treasure -.......2007-03-10

If you love Bach and are a fan of the Swingle Singers, buy this CD. Fans of the Swingle Singers enjoy them for what they do to music - release it with air and bounce - and their style is perfectly suited for Bach. I couldn't enjoy it more. But the second Cd in this set is their treatment of Mozart, and, for me, it's inconsistent. This is due to the different styles of the two composers and I just think they match up better with Bach. But at this price, I shouldn't be complaining. The first CD alone is worth twice as much. Snatch it up!

A capella reigns.......2007-01-12

Another fine offering by this group. Fun for classical music buffs and novices.

Best Swingles Ever.......2006-02-16

If you know the Swingle Singers, you may expect jazzed-up Bach with a rhythm section. Now, don't get me wrong, i like that stuff, too, but that is just clean fun, while this is just Bach. No percussion, no jazzy rythym, just straight unaccompanied Bach. AND IT IS WONDERFUL.
Precise rhythm, clear vocal lines, everything you expect from the Swingles without the jazz. This is a really great album that should be bought by all Swingle lovers and all Bach lovers.
P.S. i bought this cd when it first came out,so I have never even heard the Mozart. With all due deference to fans of the worthy Wolfgang, i have always found the artful Amadeus rather a bore, so I will remain silent about that part of the album. No matter. The Bach alone is worth twice the price, so enjoy. And, hey, the Mozart is a nice bonus.

Bach: Mass in B minor / McNair, Ziegler, Simpson, Aler, Stone, Paul; Shaw

Average customer rating:

Not to detract from Zeidler but my History of Shaw is longer!
Interesting but not quite great
Bigger and Better Bach
Indescribably Beautiful and Ingenious
Even 200 stars would not be enough

Bach: Mass in B minor / McNair, Ziegler, Simpson, Aler, Stone, Paul; Shaw
Johann Sebastian Bach , Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus , Robert Shaw , Sylvia McNair , Delores Ziegler , Marietta Simpson , John Aler , William Simpson , and Thomas Paul
Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000003CWJ
Release Date: 1990-10-10

Tracks:

Kyrie
Gloria

Tracks:

II. Symbolum Nicenum
III. Sanctus
IV. Osanna In Excelsis
Benedictus
Osanna In Excelsis
Agnus Dei
Dona Nobis Pacem

Amazon.com

Robert Shaw's reading of the B Minor Mass is, in one sense at least, just what one would expect: sober and purposeful, beautifully shaped (Shaw is a master architect), it centers on the chorus. Like all of Shaw's choruses, the Atlanta group has that trademark richness of body and blend, and it sings with utter unanimity as though it were one great voice. Shaw opts for marginally broader tempos than those found in most period-instrument performances but is nowhere near as glacial as some interpreters. Yet oddly enough, the approach seems more idealized, and less passionate and expressive, than one might expect from a conductor famous for giving his singers adrenaline rushes. Proof again that one should expect the unexpected from Shaw, as well as the expected. It's part of his fascination. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

Not to detract from Zeidler but my History of Shaw is longer!.......2005-07-13

Whenever I chance to listening to the "Kyrie Eleison, Dona Nobis Pacem, Sanctus...SAHnctus...SAHNCTOOS!" I must admit they are so deeply entrenched into my bloody emotions...They move from deep in the Pit of my Stomach, to my heart, back to my Spinal-column, finally into my wee bits of Cerebreal Memory! Since 1970's, I first began to listen to Shaw's glorious 33 1/3 RCA Recording: It either sent cold chills or warm thoughts start me to singing or meditating!

Finally in mid-1970's in Westminister Choir College, we began to rehearse in the Cavernous Temple University Cathedral with its' reverb of 35-40 seconds! Alongside those awesome soloists from NYC, adding to the Orchestra from NY Philarmonic, we thoroughly enjoyed heading: Tommy Pyle, Ara Bebarian, Florence Kopplev, and tenor Seth McCoy! Whenever we took a break I had chances to chat with Tom Pyle or Seth McCoy. They gave great Respect, Love and Admiration for Sir Robert. I finally began to understand him as both a kind person and tremendously gifted-human Being...The Only one of his kind!

When we first recorded, "The Christmas Nativity" in the Atlanta Symphony Chorus, I often caught a glimpse of tears trickling down his expressive face, near the ending of Dona Nobis Pacem! He both gave all of himself and asked his singers to do as much from themselves! With fond memories, retired Chaplain Fred W Hood

Interesting but not quite great.......2004-03-02

This recording is interesting in that Robert Shaw took a one-voice-to-a-section balance for some of the choruses rather than using massed forces throughout. I like the effect, but am ready to admit that it's not quite kosher. In addition, all of his soloists are excellent except for bass Thomas Paul, a longtime NYC veteran of the Bach-Mozart circuit, who just was not in good voice here. The problem is that, even more so than Sir Georg Solti, Shaw makes "the crooked straight and the rough places plain," sacrificing the exciting edginess of Bach's counterpoint in favor of more homogenous textures. As the performance went on, I found myself more and more engaged by the soloists and less and less by the chorus....not a good thing in a work that is about 80% choral!

Of the existing versions, John Eliot Gardiner's is probably the best, but if you seek out the old Peter Schreier recording on Philips you will be rewarded by a performance whose rhythmic and textual riches will delight you again and again. If you want a somewhat smoother Mass, the Solti recording has more enlivened orchestral and choral playing, though it borders on the over-reverent in tone and Bel Canto in style.

Bigger and Better Bach.......2002-12-13

A great piano pedagogue once said "there are two types of people who play Bach: those who use pedal and those who don't." I find the same is true in listening to Bach Oratorios such as the Passions, Magnificat, and The B Minor Mass. There are some who find Robert Shaw's immense, knock your socks off, blow the roof off the joint interpretation to be utter blasphemy. Then there are others who say "we've heard it on period instruments, but it sounds better with 250 singers!" Or in other words, "if Bach had a pedal he would have used it."

Shaw's performance of the Mass is certainly the grandest, and by that, most impressive recording on the market. The Kyrie is stunning and the Gloria magnificent. But the Sanctus is out of this world. This recording is worth the purchase for the choral, orchestral, and solo performances in this movement alone. I applaud Shaw for successfully pulling a mass chorus through such a harsh yet delicate work. The tempo at times drags a little, but with the size of choir and orchestra being used it is common to take such liberties. This is a wonderful CD set and will surely be a prized collection. So pedal that prelude all you want, pianists!

Indescribably Beautiful and Ingenious.......2002-04-27

This remains the best recording of the B minor mass that I have ever heard. Each and every phrase soars to new levels. This recording, and of course, this mass, uplift the listener spiritually and intellectually. I own two other recordings of this mass, another by Robert Shaw with his own chorale and another with Herbert von Karajan. This second Robert Shaw recording, although wonderful, remains inferior to this Atlanta recording. I especially love the Credo, which very accurately portrays the trinity in its canonical form along with the unity of the father and the son with the "Et in unum Dominum, Jesum Christum." No recording more convincingly captures the reader's emotions and intellect in a spiritual ecstasy than this Robert Shaw Recording. Enjoy!

Even 200 stars would not be enough.......2000-10-22

Two hundred is probably a conservative lower bound on the likely number of times that Robert Shaw performed this monumental work over his considerable artistic lifetime. In the process, which covers a career that began with his Collegiate Chorale in 1941, then the Robert Shaw Chorale in 1948, then his tenure at the Cleveland Orchestra, as chorus director and assistant conductor under George Szell, then his appointment as music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in 1968, and ultimately his frequent choral workshops in New York resulting in Carnegie Hall performances, this was one of his most frequently performed works. On various tours with these musical organizations, Shaw carried this masterpiece throughout the country and around the world.

In his authorized biography, "Dear People," written by Joseph Musselman (a former Shaw chorister who later achieved his own musical reknown as a choral music practitioner), there is a wealth of anecdotes about how his performances of this work could reduce folks to tears, from Alaskan Aleuts to college kids everywhere to Soviet apparatchiks at the height of the Cold War. One of the most telling anecdotes regarding his mastery, as well as his unassuming modesty in the face of it all, occurred after a performance that must have really jelled. Following the concluding "Dona Nobis Pacem" of the Bm Mass, Shaw left the podium and darted behind the curtain, awaiting the applause. He waited, and waited some more. Finally, not understanding why it was that the applause never arrived, he poked his head out from behind the curtain, only to find both the audience and the musicians facing each other and bawling their eyes out from what must have been a rendering of "Dona Nobis Pacem" for all time, in terms of its ability to open these tear-duct floodgates.

I read that anecdote in "Dear People" and listen to this recording for posterity and can only conclude that no one could top Shaw in this work, which, over a period of many years, I've finally come around to conclude in my own mind, is what may well be the finest contribution to what we call civilization. I have three other highly-regarded recordings of the Bm Mass, by Karl Richter, John Eliot Gardner, and Ifor Jones leading the Bethlehem Bach Choir, the only group who is remotely close to Shaw in terms of performance realizations. Each of them is fine in its way, and in its performance practices (whether "authentic instruments" or "modern," or "massive" choral resources vs. "reduced" forces). Each communicates the importance of the work, and I do not consider them useless duplication for a work this significant.

But when I want to be moved by the work, to truly be reduced to a quivering mass of jelly, this Shaw recording is always the one I turn to. His "Dona Nobis Pacem" grants me a serenity and quality of peace that no other performance can match.

Bob Zeidler

Average customer rating:

Excellent!

The Story of Bach

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G Major, S. 1049 (Allegro)
Gabrieli: In Decachordo Psalterio
Chorale Prelude: Wachet Auf (Sleepers, Awake), S. 645
Violin Concerto No. 2 In E Major, S. 1042 (Allegro)
Toccata And Fugue In D Minor, S. 565
Mass In B Minor, S. 232 (Et Resurrexit) (And He Has Risen)
Two-Part Invention No. 14 In B Flat Major, S. 785
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 In D Major, S. 1050 (Allegro)
Cantata No. 57, S. 57 (1740): Selig Ist Der Mann (Blessed Is The Man)
Italian Concerto In F Major, S. 971 (Allegro)
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F Major, S. 1047 (Allegro Assai)
Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1, S. 846 (Prelude No. 1 In C Major)
St. Matthew Passion, S. 244 (Chorale)
Concerto For Two Violins In D Minor, S. 1043 (Allegro)
Passacaglia And Fugue In C Minor, S. 582
St. Matthew Passion, S. 244 (Chorale)
Cantata No. 211 (1732) 'Coffee Cantata' S. 211 (Baritone Solo)
St. John Passion, S. 245 (I Follow Thee Also, My Saviour, With Gladness)
Magnificat In D Major, S. 243 (Chorus)
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G Major, S. 1048, (Allegro - Complete)
Vivace; Largo Ma Non Tanto: Allegro - Dieter Vorholz
Allegro - Dieter Vorholz
Adagio; Allegro Assai - Dieter Vorholz

Customer Reviews:

Excellent!.......2006-07-01

We are using this series of CDs in our homeschool music program - they are fantastic! We especially love this one about Bach - what an awesome man! The story of his life is told in a way that is very interesting and holds the children's attention while also using various pieces of his music in the narration. It is done VERY well! My children are gaining a tremendous amount of knowlege and appreciation for music through this CD and so are my husband and I!

Average customer rating:

Outstanding
The heavens are telling
Uncle Abe rattles the house with this thing
Sir Robert with ASO and Chorus at their Best!
Celestial melodies

Choral Masterpieces

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000003CTR
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Hallelujah
Ave Verum Corpus K.618
Kyrie Eleison
Passion Chorale
The Shepherds' Farewell
Lift Thine Eyes To The Mountains
He Watching Over Israel
Dona Nobis Pacem
Hallelujah
Worthy Is The Lamb
Sanctus
Bogoroditse Devo
Wie Lieblich Sind Deine Wohnungen
The Heavens Are Telling
Rex Tremendae

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding.......2007-01-12

-gave this as a Christmas gift to my brother-in-law, a church musician. He has listened over & over & thinks it is really outstanding. Thank you!

The heavens are telling.......2005-10-21

This is a very great chorus, and one of Haydn's best as far as i am concerned. The pace, grandness and spirit of the piece all conjure in one's imagination the majesty of heaven, and God's throne. I cannot help but be moved to praise the God of the heavens and the earth.

kanmi ogundipe

Uncle Abe rattles the house with this thing.......2004-11-22

I came home from work one day when my uncle was visiting my wife and myself. He was recently retired from the ministry. He had heard a lot of choral music in his life. My aunt said he had the stereo ( power end of my stereo at the time was an Adcomm 555 amp. conservatively rated at 200 watts RMS per channel) up so loud it was rattling the whole house. I too have come to love this music. I mostly listen to rock and roll; but the way my uncle, and now I, play this thing, it is rock and roll from another era!!!

Sir Robert with ASO and Chorus at their Best!.......2003-11-16

After Mr Shaw spent many years in NYC and Cleveland with RCA Red Label,he came into Atlanta for a big change! Soon he switched to TELARC DIGITAL! I still Joyfully remember our Recording of the Christmas Nativity in Dec of 1975! Sir Robert, conducting with earphones encasing his head shouted: "Stop the taping, there is some Darn Sizzling noise in those Lights!" We may have not heard the word "Damn" lights, that he employed at times!

On both this newer release of TELARC and the older Recording of The Christmas Nativity, there are Bach's Chorale, Break Forth, Dona Nobis Pacem from the B-Minor Mass, Handel's Hallelujah! Plus the exquisite, Shepherds's Farewell to the Holy Family of Berlioz's The Infant Christ!

Those who may not be familiar with Berlioz from both recordings, will be richly rewarded by hearing them plus the Rex Tremendae from Berlioz''s Requiem and the other Kyrie from the Bach B-Minor! Absolutely, no other Christmas Music can ever approach these two splendid recordings, which are the basis of the ASO celebrating every Christmas with "Robert Shaw in the Spirit!"

Retired Chaplain Fred W Hood

Celestial melodies.......2001-05-27

No matter what mood you are in, the gorgeous chorals will draft you through the paths of holiness, and you will find yourself situated in the Elysium, land of eternal joy, yet you are far from dead. The past grief, weariness, and worries will fade and torture your soul no more. You are set free.

Unfortunately, Nobody can be told what this heavenly experience is like. You have to listen to it yourself.

Bach - Mass in B minor / Argenta, Nichols, Chance, Stafford, Milner, W. Evans, Gardiner
Average customer rating:

Get It While the Recording is Still Available...

The Best

Gardiner's Masterpiece

My Opinion In Brief

Beautiful

Bach - Mass in B minor / Argenta, Nichols, Chance, Stafford, Milner, W. Evans, Gardiner
Johann Sebastian Bach , John Eliot Gardiner , Nancy Argenta , Michael Chance , The English Baroque Soloists , The Monteverdi Choir , Mary Nichols , Wynford Evans , and Howard Milner
Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Saint-Saëns: Symphony No.3/Debussy: La Mer/Ibert: Escales

ASIN: B0000057CN
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Kyrie: Chorus: Lord, Have Mercy On Us.
Kyrie: Duet (Soprano - Mezzo-Soprano): Christ, Have Mercy On Us.
Kyrie: Chorus: Lord, Have Mercy On Us.
Gloria: Chorus: Glory Be To God On High.
Gloria: Chorus: And On Earth Peace To Men Of Good Will.
Gloria: Aria (Soprano): We Praise Thee; We Bless Thee; We Adore Thee; We Glorify Thee.
Gloria: Chorus: We Give Thee Thanks For Thy Great Glory.
Gloria: Duet (Soprano - Tenor): Lord God, Heavenly King, God The Almighty Father. O Lord, The Only-Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Most High Lord God, Lamb Of God, Son Of The Father.
Gloria: Chorus: Thou Who Takest Away The Sins Of The World, Have Mercy Upon Us. Thou Who Takest Away The Sins Of The World, Receive Our Prayer.
Gloria: Aria (Alto): Thou Who Sittest At The Right Hand Of The Father, Have Mercy Upon Us.
Gloria: Aria (Bass): For Thou Alone Art The Holy One. Thou Alone Art The Lord. Thou, Jesus Christ, Alone Art The Most High.
Gloria: Chorus: With The Holy Ghost In The Glory Of God The Father. Amen.

Tracks:

Credo: Chorus: I Believe In One God.
Credo: Chorus: I Believe In One God, The Father Almighty...
Credo: Duet (Soprano - Mezzo-Soprano): All In One Lord Jesus Christ...
Credo: Chorus: And Was Incarnate By The Holy Ghost Of The Virgin Mary And Was Made Man.
Credo: Chorus: And Was Crucified Also For Us Under Pontius Pilate...
Credo: Chorus: And The Third Day He Rose Again According To The Scriptures...
Credo: Aria (Bass): And I Believe In The Holy Ghost...
Credo: Chorus: I Acknowledge One Baptism For The Remission Of Sins.
Credo: Chorus: And I Look For The Ressurection Of The Dead...
Sanctus: Chorus: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Of Hosts...
Sanctus: Chorus: Hosanna In The Highest.
Sanctus: Aria (Tenor): Blessed Be He That Cometh In The Name Of The Lord.
Sanctus: Chorus (da capo): Hosanna In The Highest.
Agnus Dei: Aria (Alto): Lamb Of God...
Agnus Dei: Chorus: Grant Us Peace.

Amazon.com essential recording

One of the most frequently mentioned "favorite" works of Bach, the B Minor Mass is not really a functional liturgical work, but an assemblage of movements written over a period of many years. Its grand scale is certainly awesome, but its musical and spiritual unity is more remarkable, considering its origin and the fact that it contains several different compositional styles--not to mention some of Bach's most profound and beautiful music. Performing this work and preserving a sense of its grand design while bringing out the considerable musical details is a challenge that most choirs, orchestras, and conductors are not up to. Almost by consensus, however, John Eliot Gardiner's version is the most successful--and it is indeed a phenomenal recording--at once sumptuous and penetrating, with gorgeous choral and solo singing, and spacious, vibrant sound. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

Get It While the Recording is Still Available..........2007-04-21

Easily one of today's available outstanding Bach choral recordings, Gardiner's work should be marked with a "must have" rating for any Bach enthusiast or for anyone interested in the baroque choral genre. As someone once said, there are so many superlatives about the Mass in B-minor that the work sometimes defies rational description. Surely any work often cited as "the greatest work of western music ever written" can never live up to expectations, and thus it would be natural to expect to be in some small way disappointed by the imperfections found in any performance of the piece. Nevertheless, it's difficult to find any place where Gardiner and the English baroque Soloists let us down. The recording itself is superb, the choir, instrumentation, and the soloists perform with aplomb, and Gardiner's direction make it all come together in silky-smooth sound that makes us forget we are listening to period instruments.

This recording is part of a larger set of recordings done in the early 1980's with Gardiner and the English Baroque Soloists, including Bach's Magnificat, St. John's Passion, St. Matthew's Passion, and the Christmas Oratorio. There are many recordings of each of these specific pieces ( try doing a search on "the Mass in B-minor" on Amazon and see the number of hits that are pulled up), and there are divergent opinions as to the "best" of these recordings and performances. Often, there are some PEROFRMANCES that are exceptionally well done while the RECORDING itself may not be, and vice-versa. People (and perhaps with good and defendable reason) spend egregious amounts of time debating the specifics of recordings and performances, and it can certainly be difficult (and, unfortunately, hideously EXPENSIVE) to follow these discussions to their logical conclusions and make up your own mind. Although the Gardiner/English Baroque Soloists certainly represent a non-budget-based series of entries, if you will take the time to browse through the reviews, you will likely find that there are few individuals that have much negative to say about any of them. The works represent outstanding achievement in the field of performance, and Deutsche Grammophon's recording expertise clearly shines through in each set. It's difficult to go "wrong" with these recordings, and you may find, like myself, that they become standards by which other performances are judged.

If you are finding the price a bit steep, check to see if any used versions are available. As long as the discs are not scratched, you shouldn't have any trouble with a used copy, and you can build your library further by adding these wonderful works to your collection. The Mass in B-minor is the perfect recording with which to start.

The Best.......2007-01-29

When you hear this music you will want to dance! I was fortunate to hear Bach's Mass in B minor for the first time, via this recording, a couple years ago. I have heard other renditions since, but in my opinion none can compare. Once you hear this interpretation, it is likely you will prefer it too. All the instruments are bright and crisp; rhythms are brisk and articulated despite the tricky ornaments and twists inherent to Bach's music. There is an amazing feeling of everything fitting together. The unpretentious, spirited singing of the soloists and choir wonderfully beguiles their incredible talent. If you skeptically think-or have been conditioned to think, after hearing over affected, slow and solemn recordings of this music-that Bach's Mass in B minor is a boring ultra-religious work, then you need to hear this recording. Gardiner makes it so much more than church music; this is a joyful joining of art with God.

Gardiner's Masterpiece.......2006-10-26

This is the greatest recording
Of the greatest work
Of the greatest composer
That ever was.
If I am biased
John and Johann have made me so.

My Opinion In Brief.......2006-09-20

The Choral singing is stunning and glorious, unfortunately the soloists are not at the same level (sometimes unbelievably the quality is without real feeling or technical perfection or good tone color, in the soloist parts). The overall feeling of this recording is one of icy silvery clarity without intimate warmth and sometimes almost amateurish solo singing. Buy it for the choral singing with period instruments.
The situation concerning the existing recordings of Bach's B Minor Mass is according to me as follows:
Gardiner (ARCHIV): Period instruments version: Choral singing glorious and stunning soloists of much lesser quality and overall feeling very icy and cold.
Herreweghe (HARMONIA MUNDI): Period instrument version. Choral singing is sometimes weak and without great emotional envolvement. Solo singing often of exceptional intense feeling, especially the duet 'Et in unum dominum' (Zomer /Scholl) and the Agnes Dei (Scholl). Often bright brisk tempi,counterpuntal lines clearly demarcated although the back and forth dynamics between the counterpuntal lines it not well done. The overall feeling of this recording is of a warm meditative almost monastic medieval quality, which is not appropriate in my opinion to this great late Baroque work, but which is all the same very pleasing and beautiful and will put you in a state of contemplative rest,an example of how great this Bach work is that it can support so many various interpretations. Buy it for the solo singing.
Klemperer (EMI): Modern instruments. Very slow tempi, often grave and oftentimes too solemn, interpretated as a liturgical work, that is as a mass, which it really is not. (The work as a whole was never labeled as a Mass by Bach, only the earlier Kyrie and Gloria parts were.) The title Mass is a later 19th century publisher's addition since he saw that it was written to the words of the mass. This work is more like a sacred opera, a glorious final statement by Bach praising God and a synthesis of his whole life and of the many perceding periods of musical history. Janet Baker is excellent especially in the Agnes Dei, also the Benedictus is splendid. Buy it if you want a liturgical prayerful intrepretation
Jochim (EMI): Modern instruments.Choral singing splendid at or above the level of the Gardiner recording, all soloists are of exceptional quality, and sing with great warmth and feeling. There are moments when it makes your spine tingle. Performed by a man of great Christian faith and it shows in this interpretation. All things considered it is the best version available, if you can overlook the slightly fussy feeling (but ever so slightly) that the modern instruments create. Buy it if you want one almost perfect modern instrument version.
Rilling (HANNSLER): Modern instruments. It's a toss up between the Jochim version and this splendid version, which one to consider the best. Here the advantage over the Jochim version is that although it's a modern instrument version it is performed by a Bach expert who well knows the differences between a modern instrument version and a period performance and the instuments sound very much like period instruments at the right moments, at musically graphic points and like modern ones at the moments which require fuller tone color(how he did it I really don't know) The solists are a slight notch down compared with the Jochim version. The overall sound is clearer and more transparent than the Jochim version. Buy it if you want one almost perfect modern/period version, with minor flaws in the solo singing.
The Bach B minor Mass is probably the greatest work of music ever written by one of the greatest musicians of Western music and therefore no one version can do this masterpiece justice. It is extremely complex and difficult chorally and architecturally. Here however is on a Scale of 1 to 10 how I would rate the situation:
Jochim 9.7
Rilling 9.5
Herreweghe 9.1
Gardiner 9.0
Klemperer 8.8

Beautiful.......2006-07-31

I have my entire music collection on my computer and sometimes like to put the whole thing on shuffle. The problem is that after something from this plays nearly everything else I have just sounds boring. This is some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard.

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring / Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Average customer rating:

Bach and Handel Treats
Fine recording, but doesn't work for me.
rock on!!!!!
This song is the best I have ever heard. It rocks!!!!!

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring / Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Johann Sebastian Bach , George Frideric Handel , Dr. Jerold D. Ottley , Eugene Ormandy , Richard P. Condie , Columbia Symphony Orchestra , Philadelphia Orchestra , Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , and Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000027YR
Release Date: 1992-07-14

Tracks:

Cantata No. 80: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Cantata No. 140: Zion Hears The Watchmen's Voices
Magnificant In D Major, BWV 243: My Soul Doth Magnify The Lord
Cantata No.147: Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Cantata No. 4: Now Keep We All This Holy Feast
Cantata No. 208: Sheep May Safely Graze
Mass In B Minor, BWV 232: Et Resurrexit
Cantata No. 79: Now Thank We All Our God
Cantata No. 140: Sleepers Awake
Samson: Awake The Trumpet's Lofty Sound
Samson: Let Their Celestial Concerts All Unite
Judas Maccabaeus: See, The Conqu'ring Hero Comes!
Judas Maccabaeus: Sing Unto God
Judas Maccabaeus: Hallelujah, Amen
Saul: Welcome, Welcome Mighty King
Saul: David, His Ten Thousands Slew
Israel In Egypt: But As For His People
Israel In Egypt: Sing Ye To The Lord
Coronation Anthem: Zadok The Priest
Messiah: Hallelujah

Customer Reviews:

Bach and Handel Treats.......2000-08-04

The unfortunate thingÑif anything can be said to the contrary about this collectionÑis that is an older recording. As far as authenticity, what was available in the days of Bach and Handel to perform their music, and what they may have had in mind as the formidable way of presenting it to the publicÑas well as to the heavensÑmay be quite different things. Viewed in this way, authenticity may be an abstraction we are not here priviledged to comment on.

I have marveled for years, even when these were two separate LP's, of the power and dimensionality conveyed by the way these works are performed. I still switch from one to another piece as which is my favorite. In this respect, the experience is a hermenutic delight. Any lover or respecter of Bach or Handel would not go wrong by including this collection in their musical library.

When I use the word "treats" in the title, I mean just that: it is a collection of works that one would be hard pressed to find performed together on any available recording. And so I use the metaphor "treat," as if I were given a morsel and then devoured it; and another, and devoured that one, each with a fullness of pleasure and delight, and with soul filling satisfaction.

These indivdual recordings are for the most part masterpieces in and of themselves, and to be able to listen to them as they are performed flawlessly, and in a manner that invites the Spirit of GodÑby saying they are a "treat"Ñis to merely to treat them minimally.

Fine recording, but doesn't work for me........1999-05-07

I love several of J.S. Bach's cantatas, and enjoy hearing them in a variety of ways--period performances, orchestral arrangements, etc. Therefore I'm not one to insist on authenticity. Nevertheless, the chorus here sounds too big for the Bach. Also, the program needs more variety for straight through listening. Chorus after (massive) chorus doesn't work for me.

rock on!!!!!.......1999-02-09

Jesu joy of man's desiring, holy wisdom love most bright

This song is the best I have ever heard. It rocks!!!!!.......1999-02-09

Jesu joy of man's desiring, holy wisdom love most bright

Average customer rating:

What you will hear at the gates of Heaven
I can't believe all the 5-star reviews...
maybe too much perfected?
Herreweghe and Bach
Excellence in recording; One of my favorite discs

Bach: Mass In B Minor
Veronique Gens , Peter Kooy , Christoph Pregardien , Andreas Scholl , Collegium Vocale , and Philippe Herreweghe
Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Cantates pour alto
Bach: Weinen, Klagen - Cantates, BWV 12, 38, 75
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ASIN: B000005Z2W
Release Date: 1998-03-10

Tracks:

Mass In B minor: Kyrie eleison
Mass In B minor: Christe eleison
Mass In B minor: Kyrie eleison
Mass In B minor: Gloria in excelsis Deo
Mass In B minor: Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis
Mass In B minor: Laudamus te
Mass In B minor: Gratias agimus tibi
Mass In B minor: Domine Deus
Mass In B minor: Qui tollis peccata mundi
Mass In B minor: Qui sedes ad dexteram patris
Mass In B minor: Quoniam tu solus sanctus
Mass In B minor: Cum sancto spiritu

Tracks:

Mass In B minor: Credo in unum Deum
Mass In B minor: Patrem omnipotentem
Mass In B minor: Et in unum dominum
Mass In B minor: Et incarnatus est
Mass In B minor: Crucifixus
Mass In B minor: Et resurrexit
Mass In B minor: Et in spiritum sanctum dominum
Mass In B minor: Confiteor
Mass In B minor: Et expecto
Mass In B minor: Sanctus
Mass In B minor: Osanna
Mass In B minor: Benedictus
Mass In B minor: Osanna
Mass In B minor: Agnus Dei
Mass In B minor: Dona nobis pacem

Amazon.com essential recording

This recording is, quite frankly, a marvel. In the opening bars of the Kyrie, where tradition dictates a powerful, agonized cry for mercy, Philippe Herreweghe offers a gentle, awestruck plea that took this listener's breath away. Extroverted movements like the Gloria, Et resurrexit, and Sanctus lack nothing in excitement; Qui tollis and Dona nobis pacem feel like fervent prayers. Herreweghe's luminous Collegium Vocale and skillful, sensitive instrumentalists make every gesture, large and small, seem exactly right. The soloists have attractive voices that blend with the period instruments and each other; while each is exquisite, tenor Christoph Prégardien and alto Andreas Scholl are magnificent. Underlying the entire performance is a sense of contemplative wonder that suits this deeply religious music perfectly. -- Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

What you will hear at the gates of Heaven.......2007-04-16

Though I generally prefer OVPP (one voice per part) performances, Herreweghe's rendition of the Sanctus transcends any other performance I have ever heard -- and I have heard and own most of them.

I understand the one reviewer's quibble. Herreweghe lacks the overarching dramatic momentum of a Gardiner. And, taking the performance as a whole, I too prefer Gardiner, Rifkin, Parrot and especially Junghanel.

But...

What Herreweghe brings to Bach's work is a sublimity and tenderness uniquely his own, a feeling that suffuses the whole with a transcendent spiritual glow. Nowhere is this transcendence more awe inspiring than in his Sanctus.

Forget the desert island. When I die, this is the music, this Sanctus, that I am taking with me.

I can't believe all the 5-star reviews..........2006-12-01

...because this is by far the most boring, lifeless, soporific of all the HIP recordings of the B minor mass that I know. Go for the Gardiner, Parrott, or Koopman, or the Rifkin for something more extreme.

maybe too much perfected?.......2006-06-20

In many ways this Mass in B is an improvement over Herreweghe's first recording on Virgin.
Quicker tempi in some parts like the "Gloria" which is also a bit more outgoing than his earlier Gloria. (although most parts are slower, but not noticeable)

Better soloists and even better orchestral playing.
His reading on Virgin was already pretty special because of Herreweghe's attention to the orchestra and its sound, compared to most other versions in which the orchestral part didn't seem that important, everything was focused on the singers and choir - but the orchestral part on Herrweghe's 2nd acount is even better, even more detailed and with character.

But what this reading sets apart from every other reading I heard is the recorded sound which is excellent.
Virgin's recorded sound of Herreweghe I was already superb, especially when compared to rivals like Parrott, Gardiner and Christophers which readings sound small, thin and bass shy, a definite lack of warmth.

The sound of this Herreweghe II is outstanding: big and sumptious with rich textures, instrumental timbres and amazing dynamics.
The "Kyrie" has very great impact, because of the sudden dynamic change, I didn't expect it to become even louder near the end.
Not that the sound is perfect: in the openingchorus "Kyrie" for instance the treble vocals (sopranos) in the left channel distort quite a bit - a cracking noise - as if the sound was recorded too loud.
It reminds me a lot of Herreweghe's 1st St. Matthew Passion, a very nice recording, but in every single air the sound would crack when the soloist suddenly sang louder.

Also the placement of some instruments in the stereo-image isn't alway that ideal: timpani in the "Gloria" (rather bass-heavy in this recording) are placed in the left channel.
This is not a problem when I'm listening through speakers, but when I'm wearing headphones it beats directly into my left ear (I obviously prefer bass and beat in the middle)
But overall it has the best recorded sound of any Mass in B I heard.

So this must be the best Mass in B then?
No.
I still like his 1st account better.
There's something about his Virgin recording - just like his first St. Matthew in comparison with his later account - that is very special.
I sense a greater 'searching' commitment and devotion which I do not hear that obvious in his later account.
Maybe it's just me, having lived with his 1st recording for so much longer than this newer one, and are terms like stronger "devotion" and "commitment" simply not true and valid, but do they exist only in my head.

Well ok, at least for me, just subjectively speaking (like every other ordinary guy would just give HIS opinion), this newer Harmonia Mundi recording does have all those qualities of his older account, but maybe too much perfected? Could it be?

Oh well, along with Herreweghe's 1st recording this one will remain my favorite Mass in B for a very, very long while.

Herreweghe and Bach.......2005-09-17

If you don't like HIP and prefer massive choruses and thick lush sounds you will probably not like this recording! That said, although Herreweghe is clearly in the camp of HIP, he doesn't overdo it. I find that when you listen to his recordings of Bach you can grasp and marvel at what is going on compositionally, without being left cold by lack of emotion. That is certainly true here.

Many other reviews have commented in detail, I will not add my voice to theirs in analyzing each and every aspect. I will tell you that if you are at all HIP oriented or open minded about a variety of performance styles AND are willing to really sit down and listen, you will find it a wonderful recording to own.

Excellence in recording; One of my favorite discs.......2005-07-14

I have several recordings of the Bach b-minor mass (Gardiner, Shaw, Harnoncourt and Herreweghe). Herreweghe's recording is the favorite hands-down. His artistic choices are excellent; The orchestra and chorus of Collegium Vocale Gent offer a broad and intense palette for Herreweghe's brush. This small chamber orchestra balances the voices beautifully and more succesfully than a large orchestra (Shaw). What is sacrificed in instrumental blending is more than compensated by the pronounced character of each instrument and the resulting dramatic effect. Rather than use brute force in tutti sections, Herreweghe offers subtly of line, emphasizing the genius of Bach's counterpoint with clarity. At times, an almost-spartan string section acts as a haunting backdrop for the soloists and chorus (best example 'Agnus Dei'). This is not to say that instrumental force is lacking; plenty punches through in the 'Gloria' and 'Et Ressurexit' where required, but the voice reigns supreme.

Chorus texture blends beautifully, at times sounding like powerful 4 and 5 part solo work rather than an ensemble; they lend enough force to carry through the full orchestra. Soloists are remarkable, delivering the text clearly and audibly throughout with solid intonation. I applaud the maestro's choices of sopranos Johannette Zomer & Véronique Gens (beautiful work in the 'Christe Eleison') and countertenor Andreas Scholl rather than the more common choice of a female alto; Sorry ladies, but the b-minor demands the purity of a countertenor. Scholl's voice is a perfect pairing to the oboe d'amore in 'Qui sedes ad dexteram patris' and the plaintive organ in 'Angus Dei'. Tempi are a bit fast throughout compared to other recordings but used to good effect.

I would recommend this as a first recording to anyone who is new to the b-minor mass , or as a second (third, fourth, or fifth) recording for those who own other performances. Through his period ensemble and sound judgement, Herreweghe elevates the beauty, expressiveness and drama of Bach's secular mass to a sacred status.

Average customer rating:

A Communication between Alien Worlds
Absolutely amazing
Inspiring
sophisticated
keep it open

Lambarena-Bach to Africa

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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African Voices

ASIN: B000002A94
Release Date: 1995-10-24

Tracks:

Jesus bleibet meine Freude
Sankanda
Mayingo
Herr, unser Herrscher
Mabo Maboe
Bombe
Pepa Nzac Gnon Ma
Mamoudo Na Sakka Baya Boudouma Ngombi
Agnus Dei
Ikoukou
Inongo
Okoukoue
Lhr Lieblishste Blicke, ihr freudige Stunden
Jesus bleibet meine Freude

Customer Reviews:

A Communication between Alien Worlds.......2006-12-01

Electrifying...first let me say that this is among the 10 top CD's in my
entire music collection. Let me explain what this music is NOT. It is not a group of African singers and musicians performing Bach. No, instead it is the response of African musicians listening to the music of Bach and talking back in their own tonal language. First we hear melodies of Bach - tame and civilized - played on the traditional instruments, perhaps organ or piano or violin. On hearing Bach, the Africans join in and respond with their own raw, primeval, earth-centered music. Think of a bird which changes its song and rhythm in response to a classical flute melody and you get the idea. A treat not to be missed.

Absolutely amazing.......2006-04-06

I have truly enjoyed this CD. As a Gabonese woman myself hearing the mix of traditional gabonese sounds, tribal language, and sounds and the heavenly music of Bach is truly...heaven. I do understand that such a mix could be an atrocity for some classical music fans but just forget Bach alone and try to picture his music beinf celebrated by some people who before had maybe never heard of him... jst enjoy the coming ogether of two cultures... Pierre Akendengue is brilliant, simply brilliant!

Inspiring.......2005-08-28

As a classically trained celleist and person who simply loves classical music- This album has been a tremendous insparation, opening my eyes to the true possibilities of music. The mix of the traditional music of Africa and Bach shows how cultures, from complete and totoal opposit ends of the world can come together and culturally unite. I would highly recommend this album to anyone who wants to see the true potential of Bach.

sophisticated.......2005-08-06

The work in this record is amazing and incredibly sophisticated.
The blend is almost unthinkable, but after you listen to this CD you feel the musical magic that was created at that early days of the 29th century, where two opposite worlds meet to surprise our senses with new sounds.
A real banquet for a music lover!

keep it open.......2005-03-28

We are all one world. Combining the sounds and rhythms of different cultures and eras can be a beautiful thing. This album does it well. With an open mind, you'll find yourself swept away, only to be brought back by the natural motion of your tapping foot or your swaying body.

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