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.
Douglas Lawrence director
Briar Goessi violin 1
Christine Ruiter violin 2
John Quaine viola
Rebecca Diederich cello
Ruth Wilkinson violone
Rhys Boak organ
“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.
phenomenal: flawless intonation, superb uniformity, perfect tonal balance, astounding dynamic range and sleek voice-leading
There are days when something of heaven seems to touch the earth. Thank you for giving us just one of those such days
The Australian Chamber Choir inspired the audience with the finest choral music
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
Conductor Douglas Lawrence has created an ensemble that sings with utmost precision and utmost sensitivity, possessing a perfectly balanced choral sound
Artists
Australian Chamber Choir
The Australian Chamber Choir was founded by Douglas Lawrence in July 2007.
Johann Sebastian Bach
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.
Douglas Lawrence
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.
Johann Christoph Bach
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.
Tracks
- Motet for five-part choir: Das Blut Jesu Christi Johann Michael Bach 4:06
- Verse 1: Choral: Jesu, meine Freude 1:07
- Es ist nun nichts 2:47
- Verse 2: Choral: Unter deinem Schirmen 1:07
- Denn das Gesetz 1:03
- Verse 3: Trotz dem alten Drachen 2:15
- Ihr aber seid nicht fleischlich 2:32
- Verse 4: Choral: Weg mit allen Schätzen 1:11
- Andante: So aber Christus in euch ist 2:10
- Verse 5: Gute Nacht 3:29
- So nun der Geist 1:33
- Verse 6: Choral: Weicht, ihr Trauergeister 1:21
- Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied 5:15
- Aria / Choral: Wie sich ein Vater erbarmet 4:52
- Cori unisoni: Alles was Odem hat 4:08
- Motet for eight-part double choir: Lieber Herr Gott, wecke uns auf Johann Christoph Bach 4:03
- Sinfonia 1:05
- Verse 1 Allegro: Christ lag in Todes Banden 4:00
- Verse 2 Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt 3:21
- Verse 3 Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn 1:55
- Verse 4 Da Tod und Leben ringen 2:15
- Verse 5 Hie ist das rechte Osterlamm 3:45
- Verse 6 So feiern wir das hohe Fest 1:41
- Verse 7 Choral: Wir essen und leben 1:08
Motet for five-part mixed choir: Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227 Johann Sebastian Bach
Motet for two four-part mixed choirs: Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 225 Johann Sebastian Bach
Cantata for Easter Sunday: Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4 Johann Sebastian Bach
Performers
- Australian Chamber Choir
- Douglas Lawrence · director
- Briar Goessi · violin 1 · tracks 1, 17–24
- Christine Ruiter · violin 2 · tracks 1, 17–24
- John Quaine · viola · tracks 1, 17–24
- Rebecca Diederich · cello · tracks 1, 17–24
- Ruth Wilkinson · violone · tracks 1, 17–24
- Rhys Boak · organ · tracks 1, 17–24
Where to listen
Bach Motets is available for streaming through Spotify and Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
Bach Motets is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- MD 3363
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 62 minutes 9 seconds
- Recording Engineer
- Martin Wright
- Editing Engineer
- Vaughan McAlley
- Mastering Engineer
- Martin Wright
- Venue
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Middle Park
- Release date
- Apr 2013
- Musical work
copyright - © 2013 Move Records
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 2013 Move Records
- Category
- Choral
- Genres
- Baroque, Choral & Sacred
- Barcode
- EAN 9314574336320
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