Friday, September 11, 2015

J. S. Bach - Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140


The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir
Conductor - Ton Koopman
Soprano - Lisa Larsson
Tenor - Lothar Odinius
Bass - Klaus Mertens

Translation

Score

I didn't know what to write about 9-11 and the disasters that were made to follow it.   The original chorale was written by Philipp Nicholai during a plague that hit his town, killing many people he knew, including a student.  

The central choral verse, Zion hört die Wächter singen,  is better known in its organ transcription as a chorale prelude.  

This first version of it with a tenor soloist in the manner championed by Joshua Rifkin is quite convincing.   The more I hear of Bach's vocal music with one voice per part the more I like it.  

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