SKU: CA.1039400

ISBN M-007-18767-5. Key: C minor. German/English. Text: Christoph Kuffner.

In a mixture of cantata and concert piece, Beethoven set a hymn to art in his Choral Fantasy. The work, about 20 minutes in length, is often seen as a precursor to the Ode to Joy in the 9th Symphony. After a piano introduction, a dialog between piano and orchestra develops in the space of just 400 measures, before the soloists and chorus enter for the last 200 measures. (If necessary, the solo parts can be sung by members of the chorus or a semi-chorus.) In the main section, headed Finale (beginning with the double basses and celli), the theme from Beethoven's early song Gegenliebe (WoO 118, also used in the Ode to Joy) is presented, varied and finally used in the March in F major. The main source of the Choral Fantasia for the edition is the first edition of the parts, published in 1811 and corrected by Beethoven; alongside this an English edition of the parts published by Clementi (1810) has been consulted for comparison. The edition contains an English singing version in a translation by Natalia Macfarren from the 19th century.

SKU: CA.2102911

ISBN 9790007198190. Text language: Latin.

Marc-Antoine Charpentier's Christmas mass, the Messe de Minuit, is throughly in the French tradition, celebrating the joyful news of the Birth of Christ with cheerful happiness. In this midnight mass, composed in 1694, ten traditional French Christmas hymns have been rearranged, lending the work a dance-like energy alongside charming tone coloring. In independent movements the relatively small instrumental ensemble consisting of two flutes, strings and organ plays a significant role in the musical events of this mass, alternating with various combinations of the vocal parts. Solo voices are only used together in small ensembles and, in accordance with the practices of the period, the boundaries between solo ensemble and choir are fluid, meaning that these solo passages can also be sung by members of the choir. Score and part available separately - see item CA.2102900.

SKU: CA.3119213

ISBN 9790007210267. Text language: German/English.

The cantata Nun danket alle Gott (Now thank we all our God) BWV 192 is based on the text of the well-known hymn. It is therefore one of a small number of chorale cantatas which contain no free poetic texts. Correspondingly, there are no recitatives either. It has only recently been assumed that this three-movement work was not intended for Leipzig, but was actually written in 1730 for Bach's prestigious position as Kapellmeister of Saxe-Weissenfels. The court of Duke Christian enjoyed the its sojourn in the newly-renovated castle of its secondary residence in Sangerhausen and, at Trinity, in the court church, celebrated the anniversary of its consecration with festive music. Bach evidently occasionally contributed to this. The work does not survive complete. Even in the 18th century a full score evidently no longer existed, just a set of parts, the tenor part of which is entirely missing. For the new edition the missing part has been reconstructed by Detlev Schulten (Leipzig). Score and part available separately - see item CA.3119200.

SKU: CA.3119211

ISBN 9790007210243. Text language: German/English.

The cantata Nun danket alle Gott (Now thank we all our God) BWV 192 is based on the text of the well-known hymn. It is therefore one of a small number of chorale cantatas which contain no free poetic texts. Correspondingly, there are no recitatives either. It has only recently been assumed that this three-movement work was not intended for Leipzig, but was actually written in 1730 for Bach's prestigious position as Kapellmeister of Saxe-Weissenfels. The court of Duke Christian enjoyed the its sojourn in the newly-renovated castle of its secondary residence in Sangerhausen and, at Trinity, in the court church, celebrated the anniversary of its consecration with festive music. Bach evidently occasionally contributed to this. The work does not survive complete. Even in the 18th century a full score evidently no longer existed, just a set of parts, the tenor part of which is entirely missing. For the new edition the missing part has been reconstructed by Detlev Schulten (Leipzig). Score and part available separately - see item CA.3119200.