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Track(s) taken from CDA67139

Ach, was ist doch unser Leben, BWV743

composer

Christopher Herrick (organ)
Recording details: April 1999
Pfarrkirche St Michael, Kaisten, Switzerland
Produced by Paul Spicer
Engineered by Paul Niederberger
Release date: July 1999
Total duration: 3 minutes 22 seconds
 

Reviews

‘This boldly presented recital … holds the listener from beginning to end’ (The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs)

‘Herrick's technical mastery is stunningly apparent’ (Contemporary Review)
The three verses of the partita on Ach, was ist doch unser Leben, BWV743, employ the techniques of decorated cantus firmus – harmonisation with interludes and pedal cantus firmus. The many descending arpeggios, particularly at the end of the first and third sections, suggest the musical equivalent of a shrug, mirroring the resignation of the opening line of the chorale – ‘What then is our life?’

from notes by Stephen Westrop © 1999

Les trois strophes de la partita sur Ach, was ist doch unser Leben, BWV743 recourent aux techniques du cantus firmus orné – harmonisations avec interludes et cantus firmus aux pédales. Les nombreux arpèges descendants, surtout à la fin des première et troisième sections, évoquent l’équivalent musical d’un haussement d’épaules, écho de la résignation du verset initial du choral – «Qu’est donc notre vie?»

extrait des notes rédigées par Stephen Westrop © 1999
Français: Hypérion

Die drei Strophen der Partita über Ach, was ist doch unser Leben BWV 743 machen von der Technik des verzierten Cantus firmus Gebrauch: Harmonisierung mit Zwischenspielen und Cantus firmus im Pedal. Die zahlreichen abwärts gerichteten Arpeggien, insbesondere am Ende des ersten und dritten Abschnitts, lassen an das musikalische Äquivalent eines Schulterzuckens denken und die Resignation der ersten Zeile des Chorals anklingen.

aus dem Begleittext von Stephen Westrop © 1999
Deutsch: Anne Steeb/Bernd Müller

Other albums featuring this work

Bach: The Complete Organ Works
CDS44121/3616CDs Boxed set (at a special price) — Download only
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