SKU: CA.4094200

ISBN 9790007078423. Key: B flat major. Language: Italian. Text: Metastasio, Pietro. Text: Pietro Metastasio.

Pietro Metastasio's libretto to azione sacra La Passione di Gesu Cristo (1730) is a prototype for the Italian Catholic oratorio of the 18th century, in which the Biblical text is entirely transformed into free verse. Originally written for Antonio Caldara, the text has been set to music many times. However, the famous poet wrote in a letter to the 26-year-old composer that the setting, in the style of Italian Opera seria, was the most expressive music that has ever been written for this poem. German and English translations of the libretto are provided in this edition.

SKU: CA.4094205

ISBN 9790007078447. Key: B flat major. Language: Italian. Text: Metastasio, Pietro. Text: Pietro Metastasio.

Pietro Metastasio's libretto to azione sacra La Passione di Gesu Cristo (1730) is a prototype for the Italian Catholic oratorio of the 18th century, in which the Biblical text is entirely transformed into free verse. Originally written for Antonio Caldara, the text has been set to music many times. However, the famous poet wrote in a letter to the 26-year-old composer that the setting, in the style of Italian Opera seria, was the most expressive music that has ever been written for this poem. German and English translations of the libretto are provided in this edition. Score available separately - see item CA.4094200.

SKU: CA.2731700

ISBN 9790007167875. Language: Latin.

During his most productive period as an opera composer, Camille Saint-Saens also wrote sacred works, among which his Oratorio de Noel has enjoyed great worldwide popularity. The colorful and opulently orchestrated Messe de Requiem was composed in 1878 in Bern. The composer dedicated it to his patron, Albert Libon. We have published this edition both with its larger orchestral forces and to enable perfomances of the Requiem in slightly reduced scoring (without losing the special characteristics of the work), in a version with a smaller orchestra consisting of 11 winds, two harps, organ and string instruments. The full score reproduces the Urtext of the Requiem with its original scoring, whereas the performance material is presented and conceived so to enable it to be performed either in the original orchestration or the version with reduced forces.

SKU: CA.3710409

ISBN 9790007214289. Language: German.

He was without argument our greatest church composer, wrote the lexicographer E. L. Gerber a few years after Homilius's death in 1785. As a result of the destruction of the Kreuzkirche during the Seven Years War, the longtime Kreuzkantor, a pupil of Bach, performed his professional musical duties primarily at the Frauenkirche in Dresden. The Passionskantate was well received and widely disseminated during the 18th and 19th centuries: Thanks to its popularity it was published in 1775 by Breitkopf as a full score - a rare honor, accorded to only one other Passion in the 18th century (Graun's Tod Jesu). The text describes the events of the Passion from a very personal point of view: The story focuses less on the actual events, then upon the feelings of the observers of these events. The subjective nature of the narrative is reflected in a very dramatically marked style of recitative, which presents a charming contrast to the expressive choral writing and the melodically accented arias. With the release of a new music editions and a SACD/CD the Passionskantate can now be rediscovered.. Score and parts available separately - see item CA.3710400.