Motets of the 17th Century
View record and artist detailsRecord 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
Magazine Review Date: 10/1993
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 |
Author: Jonathan Freeman-Attwood
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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