SKU: BT.DHP-1063969-010

9x12 inches. English-German-French-Dutch.

The Ukrainian Dmitri Bortniansky (1751-1825) received lessons at the local singing school in his hometown of Hlukhiv, and soon his extraordinary talent was recognised. He was somewhat of a child prodigy, writing his first opera at a young age. Following his studies Bortniansky was appointed court composer and Kapellmeister of the Imperial Chapel Choir. In the period that followed, he wrote - in addition to a number of operas, instrumental works, and a cycle of songs - more than a hundred religious works for a cappella choir, in which he combined Russian-orthodox and Ukrainian traditions with late 18th century European music. The appealing melody of Ich bete an die Macht derLiebe (Prayer to the Power of Love) became well-known, especially in Germany, in combination with German text by Gerhard Tersteegen. This arrangement by Michael Bilkes reflects the atmosphere of the original work very well.

Die Chormusik des russischen Komponisten Dmitri Bortniansky zeugt von großem technischen Können und reflektiert zugleich ein tiefes spirituelles Verständnis. Die Melodie zu Ich bete an die Macht der Liebe erlangte mit dem Text von Gerhard Tersteegen besonders im deutschsprachigen Raum einen großen Bekanntheitsgrad. Die vorliegende Blasorchesterbearbeitung von Michael Bilkes gibt die Stimmung des Originals sehr gut wieder.