Recreation for the Soul

Magdalena Consort

16,9928,49
(3 press reviews)
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Original Recording Format: DSD 64
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Bach’s ambition to compose a body of ‘well-regulated church music’ – liturgical music for the entire church calendar – produced a wealth of sacred cantatas. Around two hundred have survived, and are an eloquent expression of his opinion that ‘true music should be for the honour of God and the recreation of the soul’. That comment – made with respect to the art of realising a figured-bass (where harmony is indicated by numbers) – seems appropriate to this collection, since the choice of these glorious works was influenced by a consideration of number symbolism and other extra-musical devices. That this most cerebral music touches the emotions so keenly might seem a paradox, but as a performer, analysing the possible thinking behind Bach’s musical decisions brings the composer closer.

Behind the unmatched contrapuntal intricacy of Bach’s music lie yet further layers of complexity, his compositional choices being prompted by the demands of symbolism of various kinds, rhetorical and numerological. Since ancient times, simple proportions had been understood to lie at the heart of musical sound. Mediaeval musicians, finding perfection in the Trinity, developed systems of notation accordingly, with the outcome that triple time was considered tempus perfectum; duple time imperfectum. Given that metre is such an evident characteristic of any music, and since triple time is something that – for us bipeds – will always be a dance, this central tenet of Christian doctrine had considerable (and possibly unintended) consequences for the character of sacred music. Bach, in addition to references to the Trinity (3 and its powers 9 and 27) and Christ’s age (33), also gave significance to numbers derived from his own name (BACH=14, 41=JSBACH, where A=1, B=2 etc.). Since composition apparently cost him comparatively little effort, ‘recreation’ for Bach’s soul seems to have lain in a delight in such convolutions; but whether as compositional spur, marks of devotion or for his private satisfaction, we can only speculate.

Tracklist

Please note that the below previews are loaded as 44.1 kHz / 16 bit.
1.
BWV 78 - Jesu, der du meine Seele-Jesu, der du meine Seele
05:01
2.
BWV 78 - Jesu, der du meine Seele-Wir eilen mit schwachen
04:36
3.
BWV 78 - Jesu, der du meine Seele-Ach! Ich bin ein Kind
02:03
4.
BWV 78 - Jesu, der du meine Seele-Das Blut, so meine Schuld
02:49
5.
BWV 78 - Jesu, der du meine Seele-Die Wunden,
02:22
6.
BWV 78 - Jesu, der du meine Seele-Nun du wirst
02:41
7.
BWV 78 - Jesu, der du meine Seele-Heer, ich glaube
01:03
8.
BWV 150 - Nach dir, Herr , verlanget mich -Sinfonia
01:26
9.
BWV 150 - Nach dir, Herr , verlanget mich -Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich
03:09
10.
BWV 150 - Nach dir, Herr , verlanget mich -Doch bin und bleibe
01:18
11.
BWV 150 - Nach dir, Herr , verlanget mich -Leite mich in deiner Wahrheit
01:52
12.
BWV 150 - Nach dir, Herr , verlanget mich -Cedern mussen von den winden
01:23
13.
BWV 150 - Nach dir, Herr , verlanget mich -Meine Augen
01:58
14.
BWV 150 - Nach dir, Herr , verlanget mich -Meine Tage in den Leiden
03:01
15.
BWV 147- Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben - Herz un Mund un Tat und Leben
03:36
16.
BWV 147- Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben - Gebenedeiter Mund!
01:38
17.
BWV 147- Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben - Schame dich,
03:57
18.
BWV 147- Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben - Verstockung kannGewaltige verblenden
01:31
19.
BWV 147- Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben - Bereite dir, Jesu
04:48
20.
BWV 147- Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben - Wohl mir, dazz ich Jesum habe
02:47
21.
BWV 147- Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben - Hilf, Jesu, hilf
02:57
22.
BWV 147- Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben - Der Hochsten Allmacht Wunderhand
02:04
23.
BWV 147- Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben - Ich will von Jesu
02:26
24.
BWV 147- Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben - Jesus Bleibet meine Freude
02:25

Total time: 01:02:51

Additional information

Label

SKU

35214

Qualities

, ,

Channels

, ,

Artists

Composers

Genres

,

Cables

van der Hul

Digital Converters

Grimm AD

Mastering Engineer

Jared Sacks

Mastering Equipment

B&W 803 diamond

Microphones

Bruel & Kjaer, Schoeps

Mixing Board

Heinis custom made

Instruments

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Original Recording Format

Producer

Jared Sacks

Recording Engineer

Jared Sacks

Recording location

Crystal Palace London

Recording Software

Pyramix

Recording Type & Bit Rate

DSD64

Release DateAugust 22, 2014

Press reviews

Fono Forum 5 out of 5

(…) Das Magdalena Consort balanciert gekonnt auf dem schmalen Grat von polyphoner, instrumental inspirierter Vokalvirtuosität, bei der Instrumente zu Stimmen werden und umgekehrt, und auf der anderen Seite von rhetorischer Ausdruckskunst, als gelte es, die barocke Figurenlehre vom Grund auf neu aufzurollen. Diese Zweiheit macht die besondere Qualität dieser Aufnahme aus.

Music-Web – John Quinn

(…) these are stylish and thoughtful performances given by musicians who are thoroughly versed in Bach performances. I enjoyed these cantata performances very much indeed. My enjoyment was enhanced by the excellence of the recorded sound and the excellent quality of the documentation.
I look forward to further recordings from this fine ensemble.

Stereophile 5 out of 5

(…) the Magdalena Consort produces intimate performances (…) The gentle, transparent, nonchurchy sound is the perfect complement to these beautiful works.
Stereophile

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