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Front cover art for Bach Motets

Bach Motets

The Australian Chamber Choir, directed by Douglas Lawrence, performs motets by J.S. Bach with works by Johann Michael Bach and Johann Christoph Bach.

Australian Chamber Choirchoir Douglas Lawrencedirector
  • CatalogueMD 3363
  • ReleasedApr 2013
  • Playing time62 minutes 9 seconds

Listen & tracks

5 works · 62:09

  1. 1 Motet for five-part choir: Das Blut Jesu Christi Johann Michael Bach 4:06
  2. Motet for five-part mixed choir: Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227Johann Sebastian Bach 11 movements20:35
    1. 2 Verse 1: Choral: Jesu, meine Freude 1:07
    2. 3 Es ist nun nichts 2:47
    3. 4 Verse 2: Choral: Unter deinem Schirmen 1:07
    4. 5 Denn das Gesetz 1:03
    5. 6 Verse 3: Trotz dem alten Drachen 2:15
    6. 7 Ihr aber seid nicht fleischlich 2:32
    7. 8 Verse 4: Choral: Weg mit allen Schätzen 1:11
    8. 9 Andante: So aber Christus in euch ist 2:10
    9. 10 Verse 5: Gute Nacht 3:29
    10. 11 So nun der Geist 1:33
    11. 12 Verse 6: Choral: Weicht, ihr Trauergeister 1:21
  3. Motet for two four-part mixed choirs: Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 225Johann Sebastian Bach 3 movements14:15
    1. 13 Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied 5:15
    2. 14 Aria / Choral: Wie sich ein Vater erbarmet 4:52
    3. 15 Cori unisoni: Alles was Odem hat 4:08
  4. 16 Motet for eight-part double choir: Lieber Herr Gott, wecke uns auf Johann Christoph Bach 4:03
  5. Cantata for Easter Sunday: Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4Johann Sebastian Bach 8 movements19:10
    1. 17 Sinfonia 1:05
    2. 18 Verse 1 Allegro: Christ lag in Todes Banden 4:00
    3. 19 Verse 2 Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt 3:21
    4. 20 Verse 3 Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn 1:55
    5. 21 Verse 4 Da Tod und Leben ringen 2:15
    6. 22 Verse 5 Hie ist das rechte Osterlamm 3:45
    7. 23 Verse 6 So feiern wir das hohe Fest 1:41
    8. 24 Verse 7 Choral: Wir essen und leben 1:08

“There are days when something of heaven seems to touch the earth. Thank you for giving us just one of those such days” (Stefen Wegener, Presenter, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche Series, Berlin, 14 July 2007)

The choir was founded by its director, Douglas Lawrence, in 2007. In July that year it undertook a 20-concert tour of Europe to great acclaim: “The Australian Chamber Choir inspired the audience with the finest choral music” (Ostfriesischer Kurier, 19 July 2007).

Shortly after its return to Melbourne, Clive O’Connell described the choir’s inaugural Australian performance in the Age: “choral work of the top rank, as lucidly articulated as you could desire, the bustling interweaving of eight lines coming across in this revealing acoustic with impressive purpose and intonational fidelity” (The Age, 22 November 2007).

Directed by Douglas Lawrence, the programme pairs Johann Michael Bach’s Das Blut Jesu Christi and Johann Christoph Bach’s double-choir Lieber Herr Gott, wecke uns auf with J.S. Bach’s five-part Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227, the double-choir Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 225, and the Easter cantata Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4, recorded at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Middle Park.

Reviews

Douglas Lawrence had curated his items with care and chosen his 18 voices well … they created a sound that was as pure as crystal, beautifully blended, clearly articulated and unanimous in execution of phrasing and dynamics. I realised how badly Sydney lacks a choral ensemble which regularly presents historically informed performances of Bach’s choral repertoire.

— Shamistha de Soysa, SoundsLikeSydney

phenomenal: flawless intonation, superb uniformity, perfect tonal balance, astounding dynamic range and sleek voice-leading

— Guido Krawinkel, General-Anzeiger, Bonn

There are days when something of heaven seems to touch the earth. Thank you for giving us just one of those such days

— Stefen Wegener, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche Series, Berlin

The Australian Chamber Choir inspired the audience with the finest choral music

— Ostfriesischer Kurier

choral work of the top rank, as lucidly articulated as you could desire, the bustling interweaving of eight lines coming across in this revealing acoustic with impressive purpose and intonational fidelity

— Clive O’Connell, The Age

Conductor Douglas Lawrence has created an ensemble that sings with utmost precision and utmost sensitivity, possessing a perfectly balanced choral sound

— Schwäbischer Zeitung, Ravensburg

Artists

Photograph of Australian Chamber Choir

Australian Chamber Choir

choir

The Australian Chamber Choir was founded by Douglas Lawrence in July 2007.

 Photograph of Douglas Lawrence

Douglas Lawrence

director

Melbourne organist Douglas Lawrence is Director of Music at The Scots' Church and Teacher of the Organ at the University of Melbourne. He founded the Choir of Ormond College and directed it from 1982 to 2006.

 Photograph of Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach

composer

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) was a German composer and organist of the late Baroque. His sacred and secular music for choir, orchestra, organ and solo instruments remains among the foundations of the Western concert and church repertory.

 Photograph of Johann Christoph Bach

Johann Christoph Bach

composer

Johann Christoph Bach (1642–1703) was a German composer and organist of the Baroque period. He served at Eisenach as organist of St George's Church and at the ducal court, and left a body of sacred vocal works and organ music.

 No photograph: Johann Michael Bach

Johann Michael Bach

composer

Digital booklet

Digital booklet Notes, texts and credits — read online or download the PDF Download the PDF

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$25.00 AUD

Compact disc

Buywell Music Australian Music Centre

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Also available to download from the iTunes Store.

Performers

Technical credits

  • Recording Engineer Martin Wright
  • Editing Engineer Vaughan McAlley
  • Mastering Engineer Martin Wright
  • Venue Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Middle Park

Details

List price
$25.00 AUD
Total playing time
62 minutes 9 seconds
Release date
Category
Choral
Genres
Baroque, Choral & Sacred
Musical work copyright
© 2013 Move Records
Sound recording copyright
℗ 2013 Move Records
Catalogue
MD 3363
EAN
9314574336320

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