Litaneien, Motetten, Psalmen (Gesualdo Consort Amsterdam) (2005)

Winnaar van de Echo Klassik 2006. "Passion characterises these little-known pieces by CPE Bach, here given their world premiere recording: four Motets, two Litanies and two Psalm settings. The intensity lies almost wholly in Bach’s harmony. The motets and psalms are strophic, laid out in regular phrase-lengths, with only sudden dynamic bursts emphasising ‘rebellion’, ‘enmity’ and the like. But throughout, phrases which begin predictably enough, then twist and turn through harmonies pushing the limits of the overall language of pre-Classical music. The two Litanies in particular are about as contrived as the current musical vocabulary could possibly allow. But, at 25-minute each and Sehr langsam – very slow – the inventiveness finally palls notwithstanding the focused singing. The nine voices of the Gesualdo Consort blend with spine-tingling sonority, aided by the heavenly acoustic of a north German church." (George Pratt, BBC Music Magazine; voor complete tekst: klik op link)