SKU: CA.3113609

ISBN 9790007208103. Text language: German/English.

The cantata Erforsche mich Gott und erfahre mein Herz BWV 136 was composed in Bach's first year as Kantor of St. Thomas's in Leipzig and was first performed on the 8th Sunday after Trinity, the 18th July 1723. The librettist is unknown. The title of the cantata is taken from verse 23 of Psalm 139: Erforsche mich Gott und erfahre mein Herz; prufe mich und erfahre, wie ich's meine. (Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts) The opening chorus forms an extended fugue, framed by string writing bursting with energy. The obbligato horn accentuates and enriches the movement with a special tonal color. The alto aria in F sharp minor (movement 3) comprises a trio movement with an oboe d'amore as solo instrument in a contrasting range - a presto middle section which dramatically charges the words Denn seines Eifers Grimm vernichtet (For the fury of its zeal will destroy). In the duet (movement 5) the text is sung by tenor and bass line by line, sometimes imitating contrapuntally, and sometimes both singing together dramatically in homophonic writing. A simple chorale setting to the melody Auf meinen lieben Gott concludes the cantata. Particularly charming here is the violin which joins the four vocal parts as an independent part. Score and parts available separately - see item CA.3113600.

SKU: MN.50-7041

UPC: 688670570414. Scripture: Psalms 1.

An original adaptation of Psalm 1. Balanced four-part writing with a descant on final verse. A nice match of text and tune.

SKU: XC.HRMG1947

UPC: 785147103653. English.

I rise on, upward forever, gathering strength, gaining breath, from the spirit of life. A simple melody gradually unfolds over a gentle piano accompaniment, growing into a full, four-part texture expressing Margaret Fuller's uplifting text. Written with emerging ensembles in mind, the vocal ranges are conservative and the melodies are singable. Part-dominant MP3 practice tracks are available as multi-user bundles (includes all parts for the selected arrangement and allows file sharing within the choir) as well as single-user versions (licensed to the purchaser only, file sharing is prohibited). The accompaniment MP3 download includes both a fully produced version and a piano-only version.  .

SKU: CA.3119411

ISBN 9790007210311. Text language: German/English.

The cantata Hochsterwunschtes Freudenfest BWV 194 was composed for an organ dedication on 2 November 1723 in Stormthal, Saxony. A year later, and with just a few alterations, the cantata was performed again in Leipzig on Trinity Sunday. Our edition takes this Leipzig version of 1724 as its source. The special occasion of its composition is reflected in the extent of the composition which has twelve, instead of the usual six, movements. The orchestral scoring is for strings and three obbligato oboes. A special feature of the cantata is its structure as an orchestral suite. The beginning is a spirited opening chorus in the style of a French overture. The bass aria in the third movement has the character of a pastorale, and the following aria (movement 5) in turn has the character of a gavotte, etc. A simple four-part chorale concludes this multifaceted composition, marked by some extremely heartfelt moments. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3119400.

SKU: CA.3105212

ISBN 9790007206321. Language: German/English. Text: Birkmann, Christoph.

It only became apparent a few years ago that the text of the soprano cantata Falsche Welt, dir trau ich nicht came from the collection Gott-geheiligten Sabbaths-Zehnden by the Leipzig theology student and Bach pupil Christoph Birkmann, printed in 1728 in Nuremberg. Birkmann was probably therefore the author of the text. The cantata was written for the 23rd Sunday after Trinity, which fell on 24 November 1726 in the year of its first performance. As in other cantatas in the first annual cycle, Bach chose an instrumental sinfonia as the opening movement - here the first movement of the 1st Brandenburg Concerto. The soprano soloist has two recitatives and two arias, in which the falsehood of the world is juxtaposed with trust in God. The cantata text is rounded off with the first verse of the chorale In dich hab ich gehoffet, scored for four-part chorus, as is usual with Bach. With the use of two horns and three oboes added to the string ensemble, the cantata has colorful and varied orchestration. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3105200.

SKU: CA.3105200

ISBN 9790007181512. Language: German/English. Text: Birkmann, Christoph.

It only became apparent a few years ago that the text of the soprano cantata Falsche Welt, dir trau ich nicht came from the collection Gott-geheiligten Sabbaths-Zehnden by the Leipzig theology student and Bach pupil Christoph Birkmann, printed in 1728 in Nuremberg. Birkmann was probably therefore the author of the text. The cantata was written for the 23rd Sunday after Trinity, which fell on 24 November 1726 in the year of its first performance. As in other cantatas in the first annual cycle, Bach chose an instrumental sinfonia as the opening movement - here the first movement of the 1st Brandenburg Concerto. The soprano soloist has two recitatives and two arias, in which the falsehood of the world is juxtaposed with trust in God. The cantata text is rounded off with the first verse of the chorale In dich hab ich gehoffet, scored for four-part chorus, as is usual with Bach. With the use of two horns and three oboes added to the string ensemble, the cantata has colorful and varied orchestration.

SKU: CA.3105203

ISBN 9790007187637. Language: German/English. Text: Birkmann, Christoph.

It only became apparent a few years ago that the text of the soprano cantata Falsche Welt, dir trau ich nicht came from the collection Gott-geheiligten Sabbaths-Zehnden by the Leipzig theology student and Bach pupil Christoph Birkmann, printed in 1728 in Nuremberg. Birkmann was probably therefore the author of the text. The cantata was written for the 23rd Sunday after Trinity, which fell on 24 November 1726 in the year of its first performance. As in other cantatas in the first annual cycle, Bach chose an instrumental sinfonia as the opening movement - here the first movement of the 1st Brandenburg Concerto. The soprano soloist has two recitatives and two arias, in which the falsehood of the world is juxtaposed with trust in God. The cantata text is rounded off with the first verse of the chorale In dich hab ich gehoffet, scored for four-part chorus, as is usual with Bach. With the use of two horns and three oboes added to the string ensemble, the cantata has colorful and varied orchestration. Score available separately - see item CA.3105200.

SKU: CA.3119412

ISBN 9790007210328. Text language: German/English.

The cantata Hochsterwunschtes Freudenfest BWV 194 was composed for an organ dedication on 2 November 1723 in Stormthal, Saxony. A year later, and with just a few alterations, the cantata was performed again in Leipzig on Trinity Sunday. Our edition takes this Leipzig version of 1724 as its source. The special occasion of its composition is reflected in the extent of the composition which has twelve, instead of the usual six, movements. The orchestral scoring is for strings and three obbligato oboes. A special feature of the cantata is its structure as an orchestral suite. The beginning is a spirited opening chorus in the style of a French overture. The bass aria in the third movement has the character of a pastorale, and the following aria (movement 5) in turn has the character of a gavotte, etc. A simple four-part chorale concludes this multifaceted composition, marked by some extremely heartfelt moments. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3119400.

SKU: CA.1002513

ISBN 9790007189235. Text language: German.

Johann Heinrich Rolle was born in 1716 in Quedlinburg. In 1752 he was appointed music director of the city of Magedburg. The cantata Siehe Finsternis bedeckt das Erdreich und Dunkel der Volker was written for the feast of Christmas. We do not know the year of its first performance. The libretto is by Johann Samuel Patzke. The cantata comprises six movements, framed by an extended and festively-orchestrated opening chorus and a simple four-part chorale movement. The first movement, with its unusual harmonies and contrasting tempi, is very distinctive. Score and part available separately - see item CA.1002500.

SKU: CA.3105222

Language: German/English. Text: Birkmann, Christoph.

It only became apparent a few years ago that the text of the soprano cantata Falsche Welt, dir trau ich nicht came from the collection Gott-geheiligten Sabbaths-Zehnden by the Leipzig theology student and Bach pupil Christoph Birkmann, printed in 1728 in Nuremberg. Birkmann was probably therefore the author of the text. The cantata was written for the 23rd Sunday after Trinity, which fell on 24 November 1726 in the year of its first performance. As in other cantatas in the first annual cycle, Bach chose an instrumental sinfonia as the opening movement - here the first movement of the 1st Brandenburg Concerto. The soprano soloist has two recitatives and two arias, in which the falsehood of the world is juxtaposed with trust in God. The cantata text is rounded off with the first verse of the chorale In dich hab ich gehoffet, scored for four-part chorus, as is usual with Bach. With the use of two horns and three oboes added to the string ensemble, the cantata has colorful and varied orchestration. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3105200.

SKU: CA.5408713

Language: Latin.

Michael Haydn composed three of his masses in honor of the holy archangels - St Michael, St Gabriel, and the Raphaelismesse in honor of St Raphael now published. By avoiding the use of vocal soloists, it is one of the genre of Missa in pieno. Four trumpets and two ad lib oboe parts added later by the composer give the work a festive sound in the baroque tradition. At the same time, elements of the 'sensitive style' feature too. The Gloria and Credo exist in two settings, a short version with polytextual passages and a longer version arranged by Haydn himself. The Carus edition, based on authentic performance material in St. Peter's Monastery in Salzburg, contains both versions, with the longer version published here for the first time. Score and part available separately - see item CA.5408700.

SKU: BT.DHP-1001910-050

German.

SKU: GH.GE-12028

ISBN 979-0-070-12028-9. A4 inches. Text: Paul Celan.

Fourpart mixed choir a cappella. The means of expression are manifold, e.g. quarter tones, quasi imitative passages followed by homophone sections for Celan's sensitive text and nonsense text in marked rhythms that gives gravity to the setting.

SKU: MN.CH-1299

Witness For The Fallen was written March of 2002, shortly after the tragedy of 9/11. Mr. Kulis was in the process of writing a piece for The Gregg Smith Singers for their annual composers reading in Saranac Lake, New York. In November of 2001 Mr. Kulis close friend, James Whelan, gave him a text in which Mr. Whelan wrote down his reactions to the incidents of 9/11. Mr. Whelan had witnessed so much of what happened that day from an office in a building near Grand Central Station. Initially, Mr. Kulis had no intention of using the text for the compositions he was writing. However, he found himself coming back to the text time after time while writing and ultimately made the decision to use the text. The music he wrote is tonal and straightforward. The opening section is underlined by an F major chord sung by sopranos and altos with a simple melodic line sung by the tenors. The harmony is full of fourths, major sevenths and ninths. It has a distinctly American sound. Witness For The Fallen was recorded and released by the Gregg Smith Singers in 2007.