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Andrew McGregor with Sara Mohr-Pietsch and Tom McKinney

Andrew McGregor features Building a Library: Bach's Brandenburg Concertos with Sara Mohr-Pietsch; plus Tom McKinney reviews contemporary music.

0930
Building a Library: Sara Mohr-Pietsch on The Brandenburg Concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach, possibly the most famous set of concertos of the Baroque era. Bach presented these six instrumental works to Christian Ludwig, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt, in 1721. Each is scored for a different (often unusual) combination of instruments.

1030
Andrew talks to Tom McKinney about a group of new releases of contemporary music including music by Alberto Posadas, Graham Fitkin, Arturo Fuentes and Thomas Hyde.

1145
Andrew chooses an outstanding new release as his Disc of the Week.

3 hours, 12 minutes

Music Played

  • Christian Geist

    Pastores Dicite Quidnam Vidistis

    Choir: Theatre of Voices. Director: Paul Hillier.
    • In Dulci Jubilo.
    • DaCapo.
  • William Byrd

    O God That Guides The Cheerful Sun

    Choir: Ebor Singers. Ensemble: Chelys Consort of Viols. Conductor: Paul Gameson.
    • A Cavalier Christmas.
    • Resonus.
    • 14.
  • Gregorio Allegri

    Salvatorem expectamus

    Ensemble: Skylark Vocal Ensemble. Director: Matthew Guard.
    • winter's night.
    • HMR.
    • 1.
  • Hugo Distler

    Es ist ein Ros enstsprungen, var. 1

    Ensemble: Skylark Vocal Ensemble. Director: Matthew Guard.
    • winter's night.
    • HMR.
    • 3.
  • Anonymous

    Christmas Proclamation

    Ensemble: Dominican Sisters of Mary.
    • Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - Christmas with the Dominican Sisters of Mary.
    • Sony.
    • 1.
  • Alexander Semenov

    Heaven and Earth

    Choir: Saint Ephraim Male Choir.
    • Orientale Lumen III.
    • Budapest Music Centre Records.
    • 14.
  • Gyorgy Philipp

    Christmas Bell Prayer

    Choir: Saint Ephraim Male Choir.
    • Orientale Lumen III.
    • Budapest Music Centre Records.
    • 15.
  • Sadie Harrison

    As-salamu 'alaykum Bethlehem

    Choir: Kantus Chamber Choir. Director: Elspeth Storach.
    • The Silver Stars at Play.
    • Prima Facie.
    • 22.
  • Johann Schelle

    Vom Himmel Kam Der Engel Schar

    Orchestra: Die Kölner Akademie. Conductor: Michael Alexander Willens.
    • Johann Schelle: Actus Musicus Auf Weyh-Nachten.
    • CPO.
    • 2.
  • Johann Kuhnau

    Magnificat

    Ensemble: Opella Musica. Ensemble: Camerata Lipsiensis. Director: Gregor Meyer.
    • Kuhnau: Complete Sacred Works, Vol. 3.
    • CPO.
    • 4.
  • Christoph Graupner

    Was Gott thut, das ist wohl gethan, es bleibt gerecht sein Wille

    Ensemble: Kirchheimer BachConsort. Director: Sirkka-Liisa Kaakinen-Pilch.
    • Christoph Graupner: Epiphany cantatas.
    • CPO.
    • 1.
  • Louis‐Claude Daquin

    Noel, sur les jeux d'Anches sans tremblant

    Performer: Adriano Falcioni.
    • Daquin: Nouveau livre de noëls, Op. 2.
    • Brilliant Classics.
    • 1.
  • Jake Heggie

    It's a Wonderful Life

    Performer: Talise Trevigne. Performer: Patti LuPone. Orchestra: Houston Grand Opera Orchestra. Choir: Houston Grand Opera Chorus. Conductor: Patrick Summers.
    • It's a Wonderful Life.
    • Pentatone.
    • 1.
  • Bob Chilcott

    My Perfect Stranger

    Performer: Marian Rian Hays. Choir: Choralis. Conductor: Gretchen Kuhrmann.
    • Chilcott: In Winter's Arms.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 10.
  • Richard Wagner

    Was duftet doch der Flieder so mild from Die Meistersinger

    Singer: Matthias Goerne. Orchestra: Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Daniel Harding.
    • The Wagner Project.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 2.
  • Richard Wagner

    Ouverture and Die Frist ist um, und abermals verstrichen from Der Fliegende Hollander

    Singer: Matthias Goerne. Orchestra: Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Daniel Harding.
    • The Wagner Project.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 1.

Record Review

9.00am

IN DULCI JUBILO

HEINRICH SCHEIDEMANN: Preambulum in F major

CHRISTIAN GEIST: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern; Pastores dicite quidnam vidistis

JOHANN CHRISTOPH BACH: Merk auf, mein Herz

DIETRICH BUXTEHUDE: Nun komm der Heiden Heiland; Fürchtet euch nicht; Das neugeborene Kindelein; In dulci jubilo; Jesu dulcis memoria; Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern

JOHANN ADAM REINCKEN: Fuga in G minor; Preambulum in D minor

FRANZ TUNDER: Ein kleines Kindelein

MATTHIAS WECKMANN: Rex virtutum

JAN PIETERSZOON SWEELINCK: Ab Oriente venerunt Magi

Theatre of Voices; Paul Hillier (artistic director)

DaCapo 6.220661 (Hybrid SACD)

A CAVALIER CHRISTMAS (MUSIC FROM THE TIME OF THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR)

ORLANDO GIBBONS: See, see the Word is incarnate

WILLIAM BYRD: Behold I bring you glad tidings; O God, that guides the cheerful sun

RICHARD DERING: Laetamini cum Maria; Quem vidistis, pastores

ALESSANDRO GRANDI: O quam tu pulchra es

MARTIN PEERSON: Upon my lap my sovereign sits

WILLIAM LAWES: Aire

HENRY LAWES: Hark, shepherd swains

GEORGE JEFFREYS: Hark, shepherd swains; Busy time this day; Brightest of days

JOHN JENKINS: Newark Siege

The Ebor Singers; Chelys Consort of Viols; Paul Gameson

Resonus RES10202 (CD)

WINTER’S NIGHT

GREGORIO ALLEGRI: Salvatorem expectamus

PLAINCHANT: Corde natus ex parentis

HUGO DISTLER: Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, variations 1-7 from Die Weihnachtsgeschichte

HERBERT HOWELLS: A Spotless Rose

GIOVANNI BERNANDINO NANINO: Salve Regina

PIERRE VILLETTE: Hymne à la Vierge

JOHN TAVENER: Today the Virgin

JEAN MOUTON: Nesciens mater

REGINALD JACQUES: Away in a Manger

GEORGES DUPUY DE MÉRY: Marie berçant l’Enfant Jésus

PETER WARLOCK: Bethlehem Down

ELIZABETH POSTON: Jesus Christ the Apple Tree

Skylark Ensemble; Matthew Guard (artistic director)

HMR-002 (CD)

JESU, JOY OF MAN’S DESIRING

TRADITIONAL: Christmas Proclamation; Emmanuel; Angels We Have Heard on High; Adeste Fideles; Gaudete; Of the Father’s Love Begotten; Gabriel’s Message; We Wish You a Merry Christmas

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring; Wake, Awake, For Night is Flying

FRANZ GRUBER JR.: Sleep, Little Jesus

MYKOLA LEONTOVYCH: Carol of the Bells

JOSEPH ANDREW BODANOWICZ: Snowflakes

WILLIAM J. KIRKPATRICK: Away in a Manger

LOWELL MASON: Joy to the World

PETER JOSEPH WARDLAW: Madonna’s Lullaby

Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, Sr. Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz. OP (organ and acoustic guitar), Sr. Mary Esther Downey, OP (flute), Sr. Peter Joseph Wardlaw, OP (violin), Sr. John Michael Wynne, OP (xylophone)

Sony 88985417412 (CD)

ORIENTALE LUMEN III

MIKHAIL GLINKA: Cherubimic hymn

TRADITIONAL: St Peter’s Lament; Christ is risen

INTERLUDE: Easter Bell prayer; Interludio for folk flute; Bell prayer

TAMÁS BUBNÓ: Psalm 127

GRIGORY LVOVSKY: Lord, have mercy

PAVEL TCHESNOKOV: We sing unto Thee; The Pre-eternal Council

ELLIOT COLE: Postludes

GEORGY SVIRIDOV ARR. ALEXANDER SEMENOV: Saintly love

ALEXANDER SEMENOV: Your birth, oh Christ, our God; Heaven and Earth

STANISLAV LUDKEVICH: Wondrous news

GYÖRGY PHILIPP: Christmas bell prayer; Hark, how the bells

MÁRK BUBNÓ: Bells of Annunciation; Mal’ka moma dvori mete

LEONID KULIKOVOJ: Three magi came

HEGUMEN FEOFAN ZIBOROV: Christ is born

Saint Ephraim Male Choir

Budapest Music Centre Records BMC CD 251 (CD)

THE SILVER STARS AT PLAY

PAUL AYRES: Hodie Christus natus est

CHERYL FRANCES-HOAD: This Time is Born a Child

ANDREW CUSWORTH: Of a rose synge we

HUW MORGAN: Make we Joy now in this Fest

PETER PARSHALL: That Yongë Child

DAVID FAWCETT: The Angel Gabriel

JOHN TURNER: Away in a Manger

FREDERICK FRAHM: Unto Us a Son is Given

CHERYL CAMM: Cantate Domino

PHILLIP COOKE: Susanni

PETER MAXWELL DAVIES: Child of the Manger

JOHN MCCABE: Peace Carol

ANDREW MAYES: Christmas Music

JENNI PINNOCK: Christmas Bells

SIMON CUMMINGS: Infant holy, Infant lowly

DOUGLAS STEELE: Two Carols; Come ye now at Christmas; The Child of God

COLIN HAND: He left the silver stars at play

MATTHEW COLERIDGE: Balulalow

SARAH RIMKUS: Brightest and Best

ANDREW TOOVEY: Alleluya for Christmas

SADIE HARRISON: As-salāmu ‘alaykum Bethlehem

MARK HEWITT: Silent Night

Kantus Chamber Choir; Elspeth Storach (director); Simon Passmore (piano)

Prima Facie PFCD075 (CD)


9.30am – Building a Library

Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

Piece: Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051

Reviewer: Sara Mohr-Pietsch

Recommended Recording:

BACH: BRANDENBURG CONCERTOS

English Baroque Soloists; John Eliot Gardiner (conductor)
Solo Deo Gloria SDG 707 (2 CDs)

Other Recommended Recordings:

Below is a shortlist of other recordings which Sara also liked, although we can’t guarantee the availability of these discs.

Freiburger Barockorchester; Gottfried von der Golz (conductor)

Harmonia Mundi HMC 902176.77 (CD)

European Brandenburg Ensemble; Trevor Pinnock (conductor)

Avie AV2119 (CD)

10.15am

JOHANN SCHELLE: ACTUS MUSICUS AUF WEYH-NACHTEN – CHRISTMAS CANTATAS

JOHANN SCHELLE: Uns ist ein Kind geboren; Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schar; Da die Zeit erfüllet ward; Uns ist ein Kind geboren; Machet die Tore weit; Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe; Actus Musicus auf Weyh-Nachten

Monika Mauch (soprano); Myriam Arbouz (soprano); Marian Dijkhuizen (alto); Georg Poplutz (tenor); Jakob Pilgram (tenor); Raimonds Spogis (bass); Concerto Palatino; Kölner Akademie; Michael Alexander Willens (director)

CPO 555 155-2 (CD)

JOHANN KUHNAU: COMPLETE SACRED WORKS III

JOHANN KUHNAU: Magnificat; O heilige Zeit (for Soprano & Bass); O heilige Zeit (for Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Bass); Frohlocket, ihr Völker, und jauchzet, ihr Heiden

Opella Musica; camerata lipsiensis; Gregor Meyer (director)

CPO 555 021-2 (CD)

CHRISTOPH GRAUPNER: EPIPHANIAS-KANTATEN

CHRISTOPH GRAUPNER: Was Gott thut, das ist wohl gethan, er ist mein Licht; Erwacht, ihr Heyden; Die Waßer Wogen im Meer sind groß; Was Gott thut, das ist wohl gethan, es bleibt gerecht sein Wille; Gott, der Herr, ist Sonne und Schild

Andrea Lauren Brown (soprano); Kai Wessel (alto); Georg Poplutz (tenor); Dominik Wörner (bass); Kirchheimer BachConsort; Sirkka-Liisa Kaakinen-Pilch (director and violin)

CPO 555146-2 (2 CDs)

DAQUIN: NOUVEAU LIVRE DE NOËLS

LOUIS-CLAUDE DAQUIN: Nouveau Livre de Noëls

Adriano Falcioni (Jean-Pierre Cavaillé organ of the Abbey of Gellone à St Guilhelm-le Désert (Hérault))

Brilliant Classics 94895 (CD)

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

JAKE HEGGIE: It’s a Wonderful Life – An Opera in Two Acts

William Burden (George Bailey); Talise Trevigne (Clara); Andrea Carroll (Mary Hatch); Rod Gilfry (Mr. Gower/Mr. Potter); Joshua Hopkins (Harry Bailey); Anthony Dean Griffey (Uncle Billy Bailey); Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus; Patrick Summers (conductor); Gene Scheer (librettist)

Pentatone PTC 5186 631 (2 Hybrid SACDs)

IN WINTER’S ARMS

BOB CHILCOTT: Wenceslas; Jesus, Springing; My Perfect Stranger; The Nine Gifts; Gloria

James Shaffran (baritone); Todd Fickley (organ); Marian Rian Hays (harp); Julie Angelis Boehler (timpani); Cantus Primo Youth Choir; The Classical Brass Quintet; Gretchen Kuhrmann (conductor)

Signum Classics SIGCD512 (CD)

10.55am – New Releases

GRAHAM FITKIN: STRING QUARTETS

GRAHAM FITKIN: Servant; Inside; A Small Quartet; Another Small Quartet; String; Pawn

Sacconi Quartet

Signum Classics SIGCD518 (CD)

ARTURO FUENTES: GLASS DISTORTION

ARTURO FUENTES: Broken mirrors; Liquid crystals; Ice reflection; Glass distortion

Quatuor Diotima

KAIROS 0015015KAI (CD)

ALBERTO POSADAS: SOMBRAS

ALBERTO POSADAS: Elogio de la sombra; Tránsito I; La tentación de las sombras; Tránsito II; Del reflejo de la sombra

Quatuor Diotima; Sarah Maria Sun (soprano); Carl Rosman (clarinet)

Naive V5442 (CD)

STEFAN WĘGŁOWSKI: CONTEMPORARY JEWISH MUSIC

STEFAN WĘGŁOWSKI: Beginning; Kohelet; Modeh ani; Anthem; Appendix

David Krakauer (clarinet); Cezary Konrad (percussion); Adam Kośmieja (piano); Mikołaj Trzaska (saxophone); Maciej Jaroń (violin); Weronika Dziedzic (voice); Mateusz Łasowki (voice); Justyna Ptaszyńska (voice); Dawid Szurmiej (voice)

KAIROS 0015026KAI (CD)

THOMAS HYDE: THAT MAN STEPHEN WARD

A One-man Opera to a libretto by David Norris

Damian Thantrey (baritone); Nova Music Opera Ensemble; George Vass (conductor)

Resonus RES10197 (CD)

11.45am – Disc of the Week

THE WAGNER PROJECT

RICHARD WAGNER: Overtures, preludes and scenes from Tristan und Isolde, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Der fliegende Holländer, Tannhäuser and Parsifal

Matthias Goerne (baritone); Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra; Daniel Harding (conductor)

Harmonia Mundi HMM 902250.51 (2 CDs)

Broadcast

  • Sat 23 Dec 2017 09:00

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