Bach (1685-1750) - Mass in B Minor : William Christie / Les Arts Florissants, K.Watson, T.Mead, Mechelen, Morsch (2CD) - Import 2 CD

Credits:

Markull / Szadejko

Description:

Christy's exquisite B minor Mass is a soft, light, and joyful musical delight! Christy has finally recorded Bach's last completed work, the Mass in B minor! Christie's mother was a choir conductor at a church in New York, and the B minor Mass has had a special place in Christie's heart since the late 1950s, when he heard her conduct the choir in two B minor masses (Christie was born in 1944). From the opening "Kyrie," with its smoothly rounded chorus, Christie's quintessential performance of immense beauty draws you in.Christie, himself a virtuoso keyboardist, is devoted to the harpsichord (basso continuo) in nine pieces, including the soprano and alto duet in the second piece, "Christ, have mercy on us," effectively leaving him without a conductor. This fosters a more intimate ensemble with the appropriate number of chorus members, orchestra members, and soloists that Christie has assigned. As noted in his liner notes (no Japanese translation available), the overall tempo is light and fast. Even in the most exquisite pieces such as "Cum Sancto Spiritu," the chorus and orchestra play with a lightness and brilliance that overwhelm the extremely high level of perfection of the musicians led by Christie. The soloists' spontaneous singing is also impressive.The virtuosity of the horns and bassoon in the bass solo ("Quoniam") is also noteworthy, and Hiro Kurosaki's violin solo in the soprano aria ("Laudamus te") is also a joy to hear. Bach wrote this Mass as a universal form of his Christian faith, transcending Catholicism and Protestantism" (Christoph Wolff, liner notes, no Japanese translation). This is not a rigorous Mass, but rather an unparalleled performance filled with musical joy, in which Bach's affirmation of humanity in this Mass comes to the fore. King International

Tracklisting:

1.Mass in B minor BWV 232: I. Missa: Kyrie, Gloria: Kyrie eleison
2.Mass in B minor BWV 232: I. Missa: Kyrie, Gloria: Christe eleison
3.Mass in B minor BWV 232: I. Missa: Kyrie, Gloria: Kyrie eleison
4.Mass in B minor BWV 232: I. Missa: Kyrie, Gloria: Gloria in excelsis
5.Mass in B minor BWV 232: I. Missa: Kyrie, Gloria: Et in terra pax
6.Mass in B minor BWV 232: I. Missa: Kyrie, Gloria: Laudamus te
7.Mass in B minor BWV 232: I. Missa: Kyrie, Gloria: Gratias agmus tibi
8.Mass in B minor BWV 232: I. Missa: Kyrie, Gloria: Dominus Deus
9.Mass in B minor BWV 232: I. Missa: Kyrie, Gloria: Qui tollis peccata mundi
10.Mass in B minor BWV 232: I. Missa: Kyrie, Gloria: Qui sedes ad dextram Patris
11.Mass in B minor BWV 232: I. Missa: Kyrie, Gloria: Quoniam tu solus Sanctus
12.Mass in B minor BWV 232: I. Missa: Kyrie, Gloria: Cum Sancto Spiritu
13.Mass in B minor BWV 232: IV. Osanna, Benedictus, Agnus Dei, Dona nobis pacem: Osanna in excelsis
14.Mass in B minor BWV 232: IV. Osanna, Benedictus, Agnus Dei, Dona nobis pacem: Agnus Dei
15.Mass in B minor BWV 232: IV. Osanna, Benedictus, Agnus Dei, Dona nobis pacem: Dona nobis pacem