Review by JJ March 5, 2011 (3 of 5 found this review helpful)
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Bach composed two Magnificat. The first was in 1723, for Christmas day, and it included four German texts from the pens of Dirck Janszoon Sweelinck (1591-1652), Jan Baptist Verrijt (1600-1650), Johann Hermann Schein (1586-1630), and Johann Michael Bach (1648-1694). The second, which we hear here, is without these additions. For his recording, the conductor Jos van Veldhoven returns to the original, specifying: “Towards 1733, Bach did a second version of the Magnificat in D, this time with nothing added. The major differences between these two versions can be seen to be improvements and evolutions in the style of Bach’s composition, or adaptations to daily practice. He could thus, between the two versions, have access to two flute players in his orchestra. By these adaptations, Bach increased considerably the possibilities of use of his work.” The Cantata BWV 110 “Let our mouth be full of laughter,” it too for Christmas day, was first performed in 1725. The Dutch group that Jos van Veldhoven directs delivers a musical message of pristine beauty. And in the two works the solo parts transport us as fully as does the direction, with Dorothee Mields (soprano), Johannete Zomer (soprano), William towers (alto), Charles Daniels (tenor), Stephan MacLoed (bass). This is a great accomplishment, in an exemplary sound recording that respects tones and acoustics.
Jean-Jacques Millo Translation Lawrence Schulman
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