Tír Na HiFi

^^ thank you Gentlemen, I have obviously not been doing my research! I have two MJNs... the Gardiner and the Christophers, which overall I prefer:

Earlier....





....magnificent music and music making, particularly No. 5!

Jared wrote:

arrived this morning, (most of it) played lunchtime.... lovely recording. I wonder why Buxtehude's Cantatas aren't better known or more frequently recorded actually... Fergus, do you have any thoughts on this?

Apart fom the erudite answers that you have already received Jared (on his Membra Jesu Nostri) in relation to the rest of his cantatas I honestly do not know why they are so little known or recorded. I am aware of the series by Koopman that Pepe mentioned which has been ongoing for a number of years now. I would say that is a labour of love with Koopman. Just thinking out loud however I would say that although, as you are obviously hearing, Buxtehude's cantata music is beautiful it is just not sexy enough for general consumption. Remember this music predates JS Bach (not by much) and it is therefore written in a more archaic musical language than even Bach's cantatas. Secondly, Buxtehude's music does not have those constant lilting, jaunting dance like rhythms of JS Bach. Furthermore I would contend that Buxtehude is unfortunately still living in the shadow of the genius that is JS Bach.

Perhaps I can entice you to now listen to his complete organ music.............no?.........didn't think so.

fergus wrote:Earlier....





....magnificent music and music making, particularly No. 5!

Yes it is, hmmmm roight..

Currently listening to the music of one Antonio Bertali....





Wonderful Baroque music magnificently played on a great recording.

fergus wrote:Currently listening to the music of one Antonio Bertali....





Wonderful Baroque music magnificently played on a great recording.

They really are a wonderful ensemble, Tausend Gülden is a new one on me.

The JS Bach Cello Suites played by Jean-Guihen Queyras....

Jose Echenique wrote:

Ciaran wrote:

Jose Echenique wrote:I remember in the mid 80´s when Gardiner made his revelatory recording of Membra Jesu Nostri, the first ever recording of that cantata, now there are over 25 recordings!!!

I remember coming across that in about 1995, having never heard of it. I bought it and adored it. I probably have ten recordings of Membra Jesu Nostri now, but I'm grateful to JEG for introducing me to it, though his recording would be unlikely to be the one I would choose to listen to now: I much prefer it OVPP.

There are so many -and fine- versions of this cantata that we all must have different favorites. My own personal is this with the Knabenchor Hannover. The children´s voices give a very special aura to the work, it is an almost mystical experience.

I only have one recording of Membra Jesu Nostri, it is stunningly beautiful music, I love it. The recording I have is by the Bach Collegium Japan under the direction of Masaaki Suzuki. I have long felt that Suzuki does not do it justice. I prefer to listen to Gardiner and Herreweghe in Baroque music than to Suzuki's: Suzuki's is too clean and polished, it lacks emotional depth and warmth: it's sterile in fact, but perhaps that's just me. Am I being unkind?

Not at all Seán, you described my own feelings to perfection. Some of my friends describe Suzuki as period instruments for those who hate period instruments, because the tuning is always flawless, so polished, and yet spirituality and the deeper meanings elude him.

There´s a young Mexican tenor called Javier Camarena that is already singing at the MET and the Salzburg Festival. He has just sung Mozart´s Die Entführung aus dem Serail in Salzburg to great acclaim, and also did Schubert´s last Mass with Claudio Abbado. He is talking with my sister-in-law about doing a record with her company, and I suggested a Paolo Tosti recital. I played him this heavenly recital with the great Carlo Bergonzi and he was delighted. I assured him that Tosti´s canzone would be ideal for his voice, and he agreed. If DG doesn´t steal him first, he might do the recording next July.
How about that!