SKU: CA.4012991

ISBN 9790007171834. Language: German.

Mendelssohn composed his first oratorio Paulus under the impression of his own revival of J. S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion in 1829. He integrated chorale settings into St. Paul, for which he was accused by his contemporaries of making a stylistic break, using an element unsuitable to church music. In spite of these reservations, during Mendelssohn's lifetime St. Paul was one of his most popular works, which received numerous performances throughout Europe. Robert Schuman praised the inextinguishable color of the instrumentation and the brilliant play with all the forms of composition. He described it as a jewel of the present.. Score available separately - see item CA.4012900.

SKU: CA.3108013

ISBN 9790007045371. Key: D major. Language: German/English. Text: Luther, Martin. Text: Martin Luther, Salomo Franck.

Bach's Reformation cantata, based on what is probably Martin Luther's most famous hymn, evolved over a period of several years. At the beginning was a Weimar cantata for Oculi Sunday 1716, now missing, which was based on the hymn with an instrumental quotation in the opening aria and with the final chorale. In the Leipzig years around 1730, Bach wrote a cantata for Reformation Day using this material. It began with the first verses of Luther's hymn in a simple four-part setting and also included the other verses. Later on, in the 1730s or 1740s, Bach replaced the introductory chorale movement with a chorale setting which was unique, spacious and motet-like in its style; this - uniquely in this respect - incorporated the choral writing in an instrumental canon for oboes and organ continuo. The powerful opening chorus is followed by recitatives and arias which reflect the full breadth of Bach's art of word painting and emotion. One of Bach's most magnificent cantatas, one of the greatest works in the history of music. In addition to the complete performance material the arrangements of movements 1 and 5 (with 3 trumpets, timpani as playing score) by Wilhelm Friedemann Bach are available (Carus 3108089). Score and part available separately - see item CA.3108000.

SKU: CA.3115149

ISBN 9790007049430. Key: G major. Language: German/English. Text: Lehms, Georg Christian. Text: Georg Christian Lehms.

Bach's cantata BWV 151, whose wonderfully heartfelt opening aria has been rightly numbered among Bach's most inspired ideas (Alfred Durr), was composed for the 3rd day of Christmas 1725. Flute and oboe d'amore lend pastoral coloring to the chamber music sound picture. The oboe d'amore was not originally included in Bach's score; after completing the score he added the part to the orchestra for the first performance. In a later performance about 1728-1731 Bach replaced the flute by a solo violin, adding various performing instructions and ornaments, of which a flautist can make use in his originally rather modest part. This new edition by Klaus Hofmann replaces the 1962 publication by Diethard Hellmann. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3115100.

SKU: CA.3113949

ISBN 9790007208295. Text language: German/English. Text: Rube, Johann Chr.

Bach's chorale cantata with its opening text Wohl dem, der sich auf seinen Gott recht kindlich kann verlassen (Tis well with him who on the Lord trusts just like a child) BWV 139 was performed for the first time on 12 November 1724 in the main Leipzig church service. The cantata text, based on the hymn of the same name by Johann Christoph Rube (1665-1746), is in praise of trust in God. In the opening chorus, full of depth of feeling, the hymn melody is heard throughout; this is followed by a lively tenor aria Gott ist mein Freund (God is my friend) with a musical depiction of the adversary raging in vain, and in the bass aria Das Ungluck schlagt auf allen Seiten (Misfortune assails me on every side) Bach presents both drama and Baroque imagery. One of the two solo violin parts for the tenor aria is lost, so our edition offers a reconstruction. The virtuoso violin part of the bass aria was evidently based on a part for violoncello piccolo, now lost. The edition provides for performance by violin or violoncello. Score and part available separately - see item CA.3113900.

SKU: CA.4060709

ISBN 9790007073176. Key: C major. Language: Latin.

The Missa in tempore belli by Joseph Haydn is an interesting work in several respecst. Firstly this setting of the Mass provides pointers to the situation of Austrian church music as it had been affected by imperial decrees. Secondly the political situation, with the imminent invasion of Austria by Napoleon's troops, had reached a crisis point which is reflected in the description of this composition as a Mass in time of war. Last but not least, this work is the first of the group of six settings of the Latin Mass which, together with the oratorios The Creation and The Seasons, form the body of Haydn's last period vocal works, and which unquestionably belong among his supreme creative achievements. This work is now available in carus music, the choir app! Score and parts available separately - see item CA.4060700.

SKU: CA.4065711

ISBN 9790007085285. Key: B flat major. Language: Latin.

With a total duration of about 30 minutes, Schubert's Mass in B flat major (D 324), written in 1815, is considerably longer than Mozart's and Haydn's classical Brevis masses, and its large instrumental ensemble with strings, woodwinds, brass and timpani even gives it a clearly solemn character. Overall, Schubert was inspired by the late Haydn style of the symphonic mass (e.g., the division into six large movements, the omission of arias for the vocal soloists who are instead juxtaposed with the choir, singing short passages either singly or as a group) without, of course, achieving its temporal expansion. This is a representative, musically appealing work that excels with its multi-layered, detailed text treatment. It is, therefore, suitable for special occasions and the high feasts of the church year and can be mastered well by experienced church choirs. Score and part available separately - see item CA.4065700.