Sebastian KNUPFER: Sacred Music
Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her. Was mein Gott will das gescheh allzeit.
Wenn mein Studlein vorhanden ist. Ach Herr strafe mich nicht in deinem Zorn.
Quaemadmodum desiderat cervus. Super flumina Babylonis. Jesus Christus unser
Heiland. Die Turteltaube lasst sich horen.
Robert King King's
Consort James Bowman Robin Blaze Michael George
Hyperion CDA67160 80m
DDD.
Crotchet
Amazon UK
Amazon
USA
This is the second volume in Hyperion's ongoing 'Bach Contemporaries' series
and reveals Knupfer as a composer of fine talent matched by a celebratory
style that is quite inspired at times. There are eight sacred pieces here,
the longest one lasting for about twelve minutes and all are quite superbly
constructed with imaginative use of soloists and orchestration. I was bowled
over by 'Von Himmel hoch' where the dazzling opening fanfares and contrapuntal
writing set the standard for a stream of intriguing works. Of the myriad
soloists, one must single out the outstanding Robin Blaze whose voice is
superb whilst Lisa Beckley and Julie Cooper are also excellent in their various
roles. 'Super Flumina Babylonis' is another work that contains much beauty
whilst the rousing 'Die Turteltaube lasst sich horen' is also very beautiful
especially in the fugue that concludes the work in rousing holistic fashion.
Robert King and his Consort need no praise from me, they are a constant force
in this kind of music and turn out provocative performances of these rarely
heard works. This series continues to prove that Germany was an outstandingly
fertile field for musical genius in Bach's time.
Reviewer
Gerald Fenech
Performance:
Sound:
