Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Motets: full list at end of review.
Monteverdi Choir/John Eliot Gardiner
rec. live, St John's Smith Square, London, 3-5 October 2011. stereo. DDD
SOLI DEO GLORIA SDG 716 [72:27]
The Bach Motets may be easy on the ear but they're a tough sing. That's the
point John Eliot Gardiner is making with the image of high wire artist Philippe
Petit on the cover of this disc. We will have to take his word though, because
the Monteverdi Choir make them sound like child's play. The choir's repertoire
covers an increasingly broad range of Renaissance and Baroque music, but few
other works demonstrate its exceptional talents as vibrantly and concisely
as this series of miniature masterpieces. Instrumental playing and vocal solos
are kept to a minimum here, but there is no shortage of variety in the choral
writing. Nor indeed in the choral singing, and although the performance stays
well within Gardiner's historically-informed stylistic boundaries. The subtle
gradations of tempo, dynamic and timbre ensure continuous variety and interest
across the disc's generous 70 minute span.
The album is taken from live recordings made at St John's Smith Square in
October 2011. Gardiner and his choir have recorded in dozens, even hundreds,
of fine church acoustics, so they know what they are looking for. Even though
Gardiner fields a large choir for the Bach Motets, the relatively dry acoustic
of St John's turns out to be ideal. There is atmosphere aplenty, but the detail
of the sound is clearly a more important concern for the performers. Delicacy
and precision characterise the choral singing in every track. The balance
between the voice groups allows every detail of the counterpoint to shine
through. The basses sometimes sound a little weak, although support from the
continuo group (cello, double bass, bassoon, organ) ensures the balance is
retained. In fact, the discretion of this support is one of the many wonders
on the disc. Listen, for example, to the opening of Der Geist hilft unser
Schwachheit auf, where the chamber organ makes its presence felt, but
using registers so close to the human voice that it quickly blends into the
choral sound and disappears.
The singers give a real questing quality to all the counterpoint, as if they
are exploring these intricate textures for the first time. Their approach
to the homophonic textures is just as sophisticated. So, in Furchte dich
nicht, ich bin bei dir, the chordal setting is presented with impressive
dynamic gradation, building up the volume across the movement, but also creating
subtleties of shading and nuance between each of the individual phrases.
The size of the choir means that emphasis, when required, can be placed using
only the weight of the sound, without recourse to heavy accents. That is a
particular benefit in 'So nun der Geist des' from Jesu, meine Freunde,
where the music itself is considerably more elegant than the consonant-heavy
text. Not that the words are overlooked, rather each line is presented with
clarity and emotion, but without ever a hint of sentimentality.
The cover has occasioned some controversy, but few could complain about what
is to be found within. The disc comes in a hardback booklet style case, which
includes the texts, facsimile pages from the autograph score and an insightful
eight-page essay from Gardiner himself. An impressive package all round then,
and one that deserves the highest praise. Not that any is necessary given
Gardiner's reputation when it comes to Bach.
Gavin Dixon
An impressive package and one that deserves the highest praise.
see also review by John
Quinn (July 2012 Recording of the Month)
Full track list
"Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden" BWV 230 [6:18]
"Komm, Jesu, komm" BWV 229 [8:59]
"Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf" BWV 226 [7:22]
"Jesu, meine Freude" BWV 227
1. Jesu, meine Freude [1:02]
2. Es ist nun nichts Verdammliches [2:36]
3. Unter deinem Schirmen [0:59]
4. Denn das Gesetz des Geistes [0:52]
5. Trotz dem alten Drachen [2:11]
6. Ihr aber seid nicht fleischlich [3:06]
7. Weg mit allen Schätzen! [1:02]
8. So aber Christus in euch ist [2:02]
9. Gute Nacht, o Wesen [3:41]
10. So nun der Geist des [1:23]
11. Weicht, ihr Trauergeister [1:17]
"Fürchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir" BWV 228 [8:39]
"Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied" BWV 225
1. Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied [4:21]
2. Wie sich ein Vater erbarmet [9:07]
3. Lobet den Herrn in seinen Taten [3:09]
"Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn!" BWV Anh.III 159 [4:16]