大象传媒

Recorded in St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, London

Presented by Martin Handley
Music for the season of Epiphany by German composers of the early Baroque period

Michael Praetorius: Puer natus in Bethlehem; Quem pastores laudavere

Johann Hermann Schein: O Jesulein, mein Jesulein
Dietrich Buxtehude: 2 organ chorale preludes: Puer natus in Bethlehem (BuxWV 217); In dulci jubilo (BuxWV 197)
Samuel Scheidt: Das alte Jahr vergangen ist; Wie sch枚n leuchtet der Morgenstern
Dietrich Buxtehude: organ chorale fantasia: Wie sch枚n leuchtet der Morgenstern (BuxWV 223)

8.25pm:
Interval music: bass-player Peter McCarthy and conductor James O'Donnell talk about the immense, attractive, but seldom-heard repertoire of sacred music from 17th-century Germany; in between, some of the secular dance music of the period dance music composers such as Michael Praetorius and William Brade

8.40pm:

Samuel Scheidt: In dulci jubilo
Johann Christoph Pez: Concerto Pastorale (first movement)

Heinrich Sch眉tz: Historia der Geburt Jesu Christi
Evangelist..... Christopher Bowen (tenor)
Angel..... Emma Tring (soprano)
Herod..... Charles Gibbs (baritone)
大象传媒 Singers
St James's Baroque
Stephen Farr (organ)
James O'Donnell (conductor)

Heinrich Sch眉tz's "The Christmas Story" traces the whole arc of the nativity narrative, from the shepherds and angels on the Bethlehem hillside to the Epiphany - the arrival of the Three Kings. Sch眉tz's score is by turns, charming, dramatic, and beautifully pictorial. Performed here with period instruments - from leading ensemble St James's Baroque - the 大象传媒 Singers and James O'Donnell pair Sch眉tz's masterpiece with other choral works from 17th-century Germany for the Feast of the Epiphany (which fell six days ago) by Johann Schein, Samuel Scheidt and Michael Praetorius. Stephen Farr plays solo organ music by the great German-Danish organist and teacher of J S Bach: Dietrich Buxtehude.