Hyperion Records | Bach: Neumeister Chorales

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CDA67215

Recording details: April 1999
Stadtkirche, Zofingen, Switzerland
Produced by Paul Spicer
Engineered by Paul Niederberger
Release date: January 2000
Total duration: 79 minutes 7 seconds

'Of the several versions of the Neumeister collection, this beats the lot' (Fanfare, USA)

'Early - yet highly innovative - Bach in attractive performances, enhanced by the beautiful sound of this Metzler organ ... This instrument is one of the most beautiful organs I have ever heard, and Herrick exploits every conceivable combination of stops to achieve a pleasing variety of colour' (Gramophone)

'The cleanness of tone is matched by Herrick's sober and dignified approach, in which the music is simply allowed to speak for itself. Herrick aims not to capture the moment, but to unfold the music before us clearly and logically, and does so with panache' (BBC Music Magazine)

'Herrick's performances are well paced, carefully conceived and imaginatively registered; the counterpoint is always clear, and chorale melodies distinctly voiced' (International Record Review)

'A perfect match of music, organ and player' (Classic CD 'Choice')

'Warmly commended' (Organists' Review)

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Neumeister Chorales

Christopher Herrick (organ)

LISTEN TO ALL EXTRACTS

1		Ach Gott und Herr, BWV714 [2'08]
2		Der Tag ist so freudenreich, BWV719 [1'33]
3		Vater unser im Himmelreich, BWV737 [1'50]
4		Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder, BWV742 [2'17]
5		Machs mit mir, Gott, nach deiner Güt, BWV957 [1'57]
6		Wir Christenleut, BWV1090 [2'03]
7		Das alte Jahr vergangen ist, BWV1091 [2'48]
8		Herr Gott, nun schleuss den Himmel auf, BWV1092 [2'04]
9		Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen, BWV1093 [2'27]
10		O Jesu, wie ist dein Gestalt, BWV1094 [2'16]
11		O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig, BWV1095 [2'04]
12		Christe, der du bist Tag und Licht, BWV1096 [2'37]
13		Ehre sei dir, Christe, der du leidest Not, BWV1097 [1'49]
14		Wir glauben all an einen Gott, BWV1098 [2'16]
15		Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir, BWV1099 [3'25]
16		Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV1100 [2'07]
17		Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt, BWV1101 [3'18]
18		Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV1102 [2'50]
19		Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort, BWV1103 [1'24]
20		Wenn dich Unglück tut greifen an, BWV1104 [1'41]
21		Jesu, meine Freude, BWV1105 [2'19]
22		Gott ist mein Heil, mein Hilf und Trost, BWV1106 [1'41]
23		Jesu, meines Lebens Leben, BWV1107 [1'47]
24		Als Jesu Christus in der Nacht, BWV1108 [2'14]
25		Ach Gott, tu dich erbarmen, BWV1109 [2'11]
26		O Herre Gott, dein göttlich Wort, BWV1110 [2'06]
27		Nun lasst uns den Leib begraben, BWV1111 [2'25]
28		Christus, der ist mein Leben, BWV1112 [1'22]
29		Ich hab mein Sach Gott heimgestellt, BWV1113 [2'28]
30		Herr Jesu Christ, du höchstest Gut, BWV1114 [2'48]
31		Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, o Herr, BWV1115 [2'40]
32		Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan, BWV1116 [1'39]
33		Alle Menschen müssen sterben, BWV1117 [2'43]
34		Werder munter, mein Gemüte, BWV1118 [1'53]
35		Wie nach einer Wasserquelle, BWV1119 [1'18]
36		Christ, der du bist der helle Tag, BWV1120 [2'39]

The pieces on this disc originate from an extremely exciting discovery from 1985 - a manuscript anthology of chorale preludes, compiled by Johann Gottfried Neumeister in the last decade of the 18th century and identified as containing over 30 previously unknown chorale preludes dating from Bach's formative years. There is tremendous variety and imagination in this collection and these little-known pieces surely deserve to be more widely appreciated, hence this recording as part of Christopher Herrick's complete survey of Bach's organ works for Hyperion. They offer a fascinating insight into the development of the young composer and also give glimpses of the man he was to become.

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