Johann Pachelbel - friend of the Bach family and 30 years older than Johann Sebastian - is represented on this double album by a generous sample of work. We see Pachelbel as a substantial composer in his own right, and placed alongside J.?S.?Bach. Pachelbel's cantatas 'Christ lag in Todesbanden' and 'Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan' are played alongside Bach's settings of the same texts. These are two of the latter composer's most brilliant works, given here in ear-opening performances by four voices and single strings. A third Bach cantata, 'Widerstehe doch der Sünde', for solo alto voice, is added. Among the instrumental pieces here is Pachelbel's imperishable and hypnotic Canon in Da major, and a very fresh arrangement of canons from Bach's Goldberg Variations. Performers are: Rachel Elliott (soprano), Sally Bruce-Payne (alto), Samuel Boden (tenor), James Gilchrist (tenor), Matthew Brook (bass), Marion Moonen (flute), James Eastaway (oboe), Nicolette Moonen (violin & artistic director), Stephen Pedder (violin), Rachel Isserlis (violin / viola), Rachel Stott (viola / tenor viola), Karin Björk (violetta), Alison McGillivray (cello), Piroska Baranyay (cello), Alastair Mitchell (bassoon), Valerie Botwright (double bass), Silas Wollston (organ?/?harpsichord). "The Bach Players can notch up yet another resounding success in their ever inventive explorations of Johann Sebastian by juxtaposing works by other composers. Pachelbel's ubiquitous Canon does rear it's head (although shorn of it's delightful companion Gigue), but here it forms part of a broader view of the composer. There is little to dislike here, and much to enjoy: the team of singers demonstrates technical brilliance and expressive force, while the instrumentalists are equally excellent, particularly in Pachelbel's G major Partie. Invidious as it would be to single out one part of this outstanding team effort, James Gilchrist's duet with flautist Marion Moonen in 'Erschüttre dich' from Bach's 'Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan' is masterful and utterly enthralling." Adrian Horsewood (Early Music Today, June-August 2012)
1 Cantata, Christ Lag in Todesbanden: I. Sinfonia & Versus 1
2 Cantata, Christ Lag in Todesbanden: II. Versus 2
3 Cantata, Christ Lag in Todesbanden: III. Versus 3
4 Cantata, Christ Lag in Todesbanden: IV. Versus 4
5 Cantata, Christ Lag in Todesbanden: V. Versus 5
6 Cantata, Christ Lag in Todesbanden: VI. Versus 6
7 Cantata, Christ Lag in Todesbanden: VII. Versus 7
8 Canon in D Major
9 Sacred Concerto, Mein Fleisch: I. Sonata
10 Sacred Concerto, Mein Fleisch: II. Aria
11 Sacred Concerto, Mein Fleisch: III. Aria
12 Cantata Widerstehe, Doch Der Sünde, BWV 54: I. Aria
13 Cantata Widerstehe, Doch Der Sünde, BWV 54: II. Recitativo
14 Cantata Widerstehe, Doch Der Sünde, BWV 54: III. Aria
15 Cantata, Christ Lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4: I. Sinfonia
16 Cantata, Christ Lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4: II. Versus 1
17 Cantata, Christ Lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4: III. Versus 2
18 Cantata, Christ Lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4: IV. Versus 3
19 Cantata, Christ Lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4: V. Versus 4
20 Cantata, Christ Lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4: VI. Versus 5
21 Cantata, Christ Lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4: VII. Versus 6
22 Cantata, Christ Lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4: VIII. Versus 7
- Disc 2 -
1 Cantata, Was Gott Tut, Das Ist Wohlgetan: Versus 1-6
2 Partie À 5 in G Major: I. Sonatina
3 Partie À 5 in G Major, II. Ballet
4 Partie À 5 in G Major, III. Sarabande
5 Partie À 5 in G Major, IV. Aria
6 Partie À 5 in G Major, V. Gigue
7 Sacred Concerto, Christ Ist Erstanden
8 14 Canons on the First 8 Notes of the Bass Part to the Goldberg Variations (Also Incorporating the Quodlibet from the Keyboard Variations), BWV 1087
9 Cantata, Was Gott Tut, Das Ist Wohlgetan, BWV 99: I. Coro
10 Cantata, Was Gott Tut, Das Ist Wohlgetan', BWV 99: II. Recitativo
11 Cantata, Was Gott Tut, Das Ist Wohlgetan, BWV 99: III. Aria
12 Cantata, Was Gott Tut, Das Ist Wohlgetan, BWV 99: IV. Recitativo
13 Cantata Was Gott Tut, Das Ist Wohlgetan, BWV 99: V. Aria Duetto
14 Cantata, Was Gott Tut, Das Ist Wohlgetan, BWV 99: VI. Choral
Johann Pachelbel - friend of the Bach family and 30 years older than Johann Sebastian - is represented on this double album by a generous sample of work. We see Pachelbel as a substantial composer in his own right, and placed alongside J.?S.?Bach. Pachelbel's cantatas 'Christ lag in Todesbanden' and 'Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan' are played alongside Bach's settings of the same texts. These are two of the latter composer's most brilliant works, given here in ear-opening performances by four voices and single strings. A third Bach cantata, 'Widerstehe doch der Sünde', for solo alto voice, is added. Among the instrumental pieces here is Pachelbel's imperishable and hypnotic Canon in Da major, and a very fresh arrangement of canons from Bach's Goldberg Variations. Performers are: Rachel Elliott (soprano), Sally Bruce-Payne (alto), Samuel Boden (tenor), James Gilchrist (tenor), Matthew Brook (bass), Marion Moonen (flute), James Eastaway (oboe), Nicolette Moonen (violin & artistic director), Stephen Pedder (violin), Rachel Isserlis (violin / viola), Rachel Stott (viola / tenor viola), Karin Björk (violetta), Alison McGillivray (cello), Piroska Baranyay (cello), Alastair Mitchell (bassoon), Valerie Botwright (double bass), Silas Wollston (organ?/?harpsichord). "The Bach Players can notch up yet another resounding success in their ever inventive explorations of Johann Sebastian by juxtaposing works by other composers. Pachelbel's ubiquitous Canon does rear it's head (although shorn of it's delightful companion Gigue), but here it forms part of a broader view of the composer. There is little to dislike here, and much to enjoy: the team of singers demonstrates technical brilliance and expressive force, while the instrumentalists are equally excellent, particularly in Pachelbel's G major Partie. Invidious as it would be to single out one part of this outstanding team effort, James Gilchrist's duet with flautist Marion Moonen in 'Erschüttre dich' from Bach's 'Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan' is masterful and utterly enthralling." Adrian Horsewood (Early Music Today, June-August 2012)