JS BACH Geistliche Lieder (Klaus Mertens)
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Genre:
Vocal
Label: Challenge Classics
Magazine Review Date: 01/2024
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 61
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: CC72967
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| Chorale Preludes from the Neumeister Collection, Movement: Herr Gott, nun schleuss den Himmel, BWV1092 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Musicalisches Gesang-Buch G. C. Schemelli, Movement: Jesu, Jesu, du bist mein, BWV470 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Musicalisches Gesang-Buch G. C. Schemelli, Movement: Kommt, Seelen, dieser Tag, BWV479 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Musicalisches Gesang-Buch G. C. Schemelli, Movement: Ach, dass nicht die letzte Stunde, BWV439 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Musicalisches Gesang-Buch G. C. Schemelli, Movement: Dich bet'ich an, mein höchster Gott, BWV449 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Chorale Preludes from the Neumeister Collection, Movement: O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig, BWV1095 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Musicalisches Gesang-Buch G. C. Schemelli, Movement: Beschränkt, ihr Weisen dieser Welt, BWV443 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Musicalisches Gesang-Buch G. C. Schemelli, Movement: Jesu, deine Liebeswunden, BWV471 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Musicalisches Gesang-Buch G. C. Schemelli, Movement: Kommt wieder aus der finstern Gruft, BWV480 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Musikalisches Gesang-Buch von G. C. Schemelli, Movement: O liebe Seele, sieh' die Sinnen, BWV494 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Anna Magdalena Notenbuch, Movement: Chorale, BWV514: Schaffs mit mir, Gott |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Pastorale, Movement: Gigue |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Musicalisches Gesang-Buch G. C. Schemelli, Movement: Ich liebe Jesum alle Stund', BWV468 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Musicalisches Gesang-Buch G. C. Schemelli, Movement: Eins ist Not! ach Herr, dies Eine, BWV453 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Musicalisches Gesang-Buch G. C. Schemelli, Movement: Ich halte treulich still und liebe, BWV466 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Musikalisches Gesang-Buch von G. C. Schemelli, Movement: O finstre Nacht, BWV492 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Anna Magdalena Notenbuch, Movement: Chorale in G minor, BWV511: Gib dich zufreiden |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Clavier-Übung III, Movement: Vater unser im Himmelreich, BWV683 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Musicalisches Gesang-Buch G. C. Schemelli, Movement: Gott, wie gross ist deine Güte, BWV462 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Liebster Herr Jesu! wo bleibest du so lange? |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Musicalisches Gesang-Buch G. C. Schemelli, Movement: Mein Jesu! was für Seelenweh, BWV487 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Musicalisches Gesang-Buch G. C. Schemelli, Movement: Dir, dir Jehovah, will ich singen, BWV452 (melody |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Musicalisches Gesang-Buch G. C. Schemelli, Movement: Auf, Auf! die rechte Zeit ist hier, BWV440 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Anna Magdalena Notenbuch, Movement: Chorale, BWV691: Wer nur den lieben Gott |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Musikalisches Gesang-Buch von G. C. Schemelli, Movement: So wünsch' ich mir zu guter Letzt, BWV502 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Musikalisches Gesang-Buch von G. C. Schemelli, Movement: Vergiss mein nicht, mein allerliebster Gott, BWV505 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Musikalisches Gesang-Buch von G. C. Schemelli, Movement: Selig, wer an Jesum denkt, BWV498 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Musicalisches Gesang-Buch G. C. Schemelli, Movement: Komm, süsser Tod, BWV478 (melody by Bach) |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Musicalisches Gesang-Buch G. C. Schemelli, Movement: Ich steh' an deiner Krippen hier, BWV469 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
| Canzona |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Klaus Mertens, Bass-baritone Ton Koopman, Organ |
Author: Fabrice Fitch
This sympathetic collection brings together songs with devotional texts, some of which derive from Bach with certainty (included in the second Clavierbüchlein for Anna Magdalena) and others from the Musicalisches Gesang-Buch printed in Leipzig in 1736 (also known as Schemelli-Lieder), for some of which Bach may have acted merely in an editorial capacity. These are simple strophic songs, unpretentious and indeed unassuming, with little in the way of drama or pathos, except perhaps Komm süsser Tod or Mein Jesu! was vor Seelenweh. But here they are, beautifully sung and performed by two undoubted specialists in this repertory, who make as good a case for recording as one can imagine.
Am I entirely convinced? Well, it is Bach, after all, and Ton Koopman’s unobtrusive ornamentation is worth savouring: it does enough without upstaging Klaus Mertens (here more a baritone, perhaps), who, understandably, sings things pretty straight. Koopman has more to do in the handful of solo selections that break up the recital, of which I could frankly have done with a couple more. In assessing this one runs the risk of faint praise – perhaps unavoidably, given the repertoire; but speaking of ornamentation, I particularly enjoyed Koopman’s deft handling of the short Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten.
Perhaps the star of the show (and a solid reason for investigating this) is the Teschemacher organ at St Michaels, Oosterland, a mid-18th-century instrument whose chequered history and latter-day restoration is recounted in the booklet (which doesn’t give details of its registers, however); all the more reason, perhaps, to have wished for a few more solo selections by which to enjoy it.
Discover the world's largest classical music catalogue with Presto Music.
Follow us
Gramophone Digital Club
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £8.75 / month
Subscribe
Gramophone Full Club
- Print Edition
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £11.00 / month
Subscribe
If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.