Motets of the 17th Century

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: Johann Heinrich Schmelzer, Steffano Bernardi, Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Johann Joseph Fux, Philipp Jakob Rittler, Benedikt Anton Aufschnaiter, Alessandro Poglietti, Alberich Mazák, Caspar Endres, Johann Stadlmayr, Rupert Ignaz Mayr, Johann Baptist Dolar, Andreas Hofer

Label: Vivarte

Media Format: CD or Download

Media Runtime: 63

Mastering:

DDD

Catalogue Number: SK53117

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
Dominus regnavit Rupert Ignaz Mayr, Composer
Konrad Ruhland, Conductor
Niederaltaicher Scholaren
Rupert Ignaz Mayr, Composer
Magnificat anima mea Dominum Alberich Mazák, Composer
Alberich Mazák, Composer
Konrad Ruhland, Conductor
Niederaltaicher Scholaren
Ave regina coelorum Philipp Jakob Rittler, Composer
Konrad Ruhland, Conductor
Niederaltaicher Scholaren
Philipp Jakob Rittler, Composer
O alma virgo Maria Caspar Endres, Composer
Caspar Endres, Composer
Konrad Ruhland, Conductor
Niederaltaicher Scholaren
Inquietum est cor meum Johann Heinrich Schmelzer, Composer
Johann Heinrich Schmelzer, Composer
Konrad Ruhland, Conductor
Niederaltaicher Scholaren
Improperium exspectavit Benedikt Anton Aufschnaiter, Composer
Benedikt Anton Aufschnaiter, Composer
Konrad Ruhland, Conductor
Niederaltaicher Scholaren
Justorum animae Johann Joseph Fux, Composer
Johann Joseph Fux, Composer
Konrad Ruhland, Conductor
Niederaltaicher Scholaren
Litaniae Beatae Mariae Virginis Johann Joseph Fux, Composer
Johann Joseph Fux, Composer
Konrad Ruhland, Conductor
Niederaltaicher Scholaren
Coelo rores fluunt flores Johann Stadlmayr, Composer
Johann Stadlmayr, Composer
Konrad Ruhland, Conductor
Niederaltaicher Scholaren
Salve regina Johann Baptist Dolar, Composer
Johann Baptist Dolar, Composer
Konrad Ruhland, Conductor
Niederaltaicher Scholaren
Ne cedite mentes Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer
Konrad Ruhland, Conductor
Niederaltaicher Scholaren
Laudate pueri Dominum Andreas Hofer, Composer
Andreas Hofer, Composer
Konrad Ruhland, Conductor
Niederaltaicher Scholaren
On the strength of its title alone, this disc has much to recommend it: seventeenth-century music from the 'regions' habitually lurches towards the newfangled ways of the baroque without completely abandoning older styles or local customs. This happy hybrid is widely admired in the distinct and colourful musical language of central European instrumental music, especially the masterpieces of Schmelzer and Biber, but less easily recognized in the sacred repertoire of the Viennese Imperial Court and south German prince-bishoprics.
The range of works by the 13 composers represented on this enterprising recording is striking to say the least. Konrad Ruhland, the director, is clearly dedicated to the cause of this inexhaustible corpus since he has carefully chosen works representative of four main archives and ordered them in such a way as to offset the functional with the occasional. Yet however honest a cross-section of liturgical repertoire, quality is not universal and Schmelzer's finely-wrought Inquietum est comes as a welcome relief after 15 minutes of pretty variable stuff at the outset. Few of the pieces reveal a particularly affecting treatment of the text, though there is no end of textural variety (best observed in Vinzenz Fux's Justorum animae) and clever use of dance metres. Each of the motets displays compositional competence and in several cases momentary inspiration but not sustained formal or melodic interest.
If this is my main misgiving then the performances follow close behind. The Niederaltaicher Scholaren are disappointing: soft-centred in tone despite a clarity of ensemble. Intonation, too, is often unsettled and there is rarely the interpretative conviction to accompany the belief behind the project. Muted recommendations all round then for all but the staunchest collector.'

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