''Sorrow, desolation and comfort
In 1723 and 1724, the congregation of the Lutheran parish church of St Thomas’s in Leipzig had ample opportunity to discover, week after week, a little more of the talent of their new Kantor, a certain Johann Sebastian Bach. Among the ‘obligatory cantatas’ that were his weekly lot were the three presented on this CD, which make use of the texts of Psalms 22 and 130 (the De profundis: ‘Out of the deep have I called unto thee’) or deal with the ‘Weeping, wailing, lamenting, fearing’ that are our everyday fare in this vale of tears. In fact this cantata BWV 12, which actually dates from considerably earlier in Bach’s career, gives a particularly doleful tone to a programme whose ultimate message will nonetheless bring succour to souls in torment . . . '' --HarmoniaMundi.com

''Sorrow, desolation and comfort
In 1723 and 1724, the congregation of the Lutheran parish church of St Thomas’s in Leipzig had ample opportunity to discover, week after week, a little more of the talent of their new Kantor, a certain Johann Sebastian Bach. Among the ‘obligatory cantatas’ that were his weekly lot were the three presented on this CD, which make use of the texts of Psalms 22 and 130 (the De profundis: ‘Out of the deep have I called unto thee’) or deal with the ‘Weeping, wailing, lamenting, fearing’ that are our everyday fare in this vale of tears. In fact this cantata BWV 12, which actually dates from considerably earlier in Bach’s career, gives a particularly doleful tone to a programme whose ultimate message will nonetheless bring succour to souls in torment . . . '' --HarmoniaMundi.com

''Sorrow, desolation and comfort
In 1723 and 1724, the congregation of the Lutheran parish church of St Thomas’s in Leipzig had ample opportunity to discover, week after week, a little more of the talent of their new Kantor, a certain Johann Sebastian Bach. Among the ‘obligatory cantatas’ that were his weekly lot were the three presented on this CD, which make use of the texts of Psalms 22 and 130 (the De profundis: ‘Out of the deep have I called unto thee’) or deal with the ‘Weeping, wailing, lamenting, fearing’ that are our everyday fare in this vale of tears. In fact this cantata BWV 12, which actually dates from considerably earlier in Bach’s career, gives a particularly doleful tone to a programme whose ultimate message will nonetheless bring succour to souls in torment . . . '' --HarmoniaMundi.com

''The voice of the Holy Ghost?
According to German theological tradition, which Bach knew very well, the alto voice was the very symbol of that of the Holy Ghost. These three solo cantatas do not contradict the rule, although we do not always know for whom Bach wrote them: it was neither a woman nor a castrato, so it could only be a falsetto or an extremely accomplished boy. These works demand enormous vocal virtuosity. Their extraordinary musical variety embraces sublime consolatory lullabies, a faithful echo of an organ concerto (BWV 170), and the dramatic qualities of an oratorio.'' – HarmoniaMundi.com

''The voice of the Holy Ghost?
According to German theological tradition, which Bach knew very well, the alto voice was the very symbol of that of the Holy Ghost. These three solo cantatas do not contradict the rule, although we do not always know for whom Bach wrote them: it was neither a woman nor a castrato, so it could only be a falsetto or an extremely accomplished boy. These works demand enormous vocal virtuosity. Their extraordinary musical variety embraces sublime consolatory lullabies, a faithful echo of an organ concerto (BWV 170), and the dramatic qualities of an oratorio.'' – HarmoniaMundi.com

''‘Sound, ye drums! Ring out, ye trumpets!’
In his Leipzig years, Bach liked to remind people that he was not only Kantor of St Thomas’s, but also the city’s director of music. It was in this capacity that he wrote these sumptuous secular cantatas, in honour respectively of the university professor Kortte (BWV 207, 1726) and of Queen Maria Josepha (BWV 214, 1733). Allegorical figures such as Industry, Fortune, Honour and Gratitude take it in turns to sing of the learning and the merits of the recipients, borrowing material from one of the Brandenburg Concertos or ‘quoting’ some of the finest music from the Christmas Oratorio, not yet composed . . . '' – HarmoniaMundi.com

''‘Sound, ye drums! Ring out, ye trumpets!’
In his Leipzig years, Bach liked to remind people that he was not only Kantor of St Thomas’s, but also the city’s director of music. It was in this capacity that he wrote these sumptuous secular cantatas, in honour respectively of the university professor Kortte (BWV 207, 1726) and of Queen Maria Josepha (BWV 214, 1733). Allegorical figures such as Industry, Fortune, Honour and Gratitude take it in turns to sing of the learning and the merits of the recipients, borrowing material from one of the Brandenburg Concertos or ‘quoting’ some of the finest music from the Christmas Oratorio, not yet composed . . . '' – HarmoniaMundi.com

''‘Sound, ye drums! Ring out, ye trumpets!’
In his Leipzig years, Bach liked to remind people that he was not only Kantor of St Thomas’s, but also the city’s director of music. It was in this capacity that he wrote these sumptuous secular cantatas, in honour respectively of the university professor Kortte (BWV 207, 1726) and of Queen Maria Josepha (BWV 214, 1733). Allegorical figures such as Industry, Fortune, Honour and Gratitude take it in turns to sing of the learning and the merits of the recipients, borrowing material from one of the Brandenburg Concertos or ‘quoting’ some of the finest music from the Christmas Oratorio, not yet composed . . . '' – HarmoniaMundi.com

'“In peace and joy.'
The theme of death and dying was one of the favourite themes of Bach and his contemporaries in their cantatas – that “musical theology” which was held in such high esteem in deeply Lutheran Northern Germany. Composed between 1723 and 1725, the three cantatas on this record treat the subject from different angles: the expectation of a “marvellous dawn” (BWV 8), the final departure in peace and joy (BWV 125), and the vanity of earthly existence (BWV 138). There is “no consolation on earth”, but only in heaven – what other composer, what other artist succeeded in expressing this consolation with such depth, or with such obviousness as Bach?'' -- HarmoniaMundi.com

'“In peace and joy.'
The theme of death and dying was one of the favourite themes of Bach and his contemporaries in their cantatas – that “musical theology” which was held in such high esteem in deeply Lutheran Northern Germany. Composed between 1723 and 1725, the three cantatas on this record treat the subject from different angles: the expectation of a “marvellous dawn” (BWV 8), the final departure in peace and joy (BWV 125), and the vanity of earthly existence (BWV 138). There is “no consolation on earth”, but only in heaven – what other composer, what other artist succeeded in expressing this consolation with such depth, or with such obviousness as Bach?'' -- HarmoniaMundi.com

'“In peace and joy.'
The theme of death and dying was one of the favourite themes of Bach and his contemporaries in their cantatas – that “musical theology” which was held in such high esteem in deeply Lutheran Northern Germany. Composed between 1723 and 1725, the three cantatas on this record treat the subject from different angles: the expectation of a “marvellous dawn” (BWV 8), the final departure in peace and joy (BWV 125), and the vanity of earthly existence (BWV 138). There is “no consolation on earth”, but only in heaven – what other composer, what other artist succeeded in expressing this consolation with such depth, or with such obviousness as Bach?'' -- HarmoniaMundi.com

“

December 1791, the final Requiem. Tired by his many voyages around Europe ever since he had been rejected in Vienna, Mozart could not find the strength to honour his promise to compose a Requiem in record time for the person who had commissioned it… He was in fact to be struck down by illness during its composition and it was his pupil Süssmayr who finished the work according to his instructions. This version remains the most convincing, for the presence and grandeur of Mozart are present everywhere - in the baroque imagination and the classical style, in the universal unrest and the sheer terror of a man alone in the face of Death.

”

“

December 1791, the final Requiem. Tired by his many voyages around Europe ever since he had been rejected in Vienna, Mozart could not find the strength to honour his promise to compose a Requiem in record time for the person who had commissioned it… He was in fact to be struck down by illness during its composition and it was his pupil Süssmayr who finished the work according to his instructions. This version remains the most convincing, for the presence and grandeur of Mozart are present everywhere - in the baroque imagination and the classical style, in the universal unrest and the sheer terror of a man alone in the face of Death.

”