Classical Music

Classical Music

The two competitors had a few things in common: Johann Hermann Schein was born in Dresden in 1586, one year after Heinrich Schütz. Similar to Schütz, the Dresden court conductor for many years, he was accepted into the Dresden court orchestra as a choirboy, where he received a solid musical education. And he became very successful as a composer. Around 1600, a transformation took place that originated in Italy: the invention of the basso continuo, the development of solo singing, a freer approach to counterpoint, the emergence of opera and much more. These innovations were received in the German-speaking world: through the sale of Italian printed music, the private acquisition and distribution of music, the employment of Italian musicians, trips to Italy. Schein made an important contribution to this development by combining these radically new Italian ideas with the German style.

In the anniversary year of the Leipzig Thomaskantorats Hans Christoph Rademann presented with the Dresden Chamber Choir also recorded all of the collection "Israelsbrünnlein" by Johann Hermann Schein, surely the greatest cantor of St. Thomas before Johann Sebastian Bach. The Israelsbrünnlein is probably the most important collection of motets in German music of the 17th century. The motets in the "Italian-Madrigalische Manir" were composed on Old Testament texts and these are what gave the collection its name. Originally created for ceremonial occasions such as weddings, funerals or graduations, they unite the secular madrigal style with the art of sacred polyphonic motet. - Carus Records

The Dresden Chamber Choir is known for the great intensity and clarity of its performances. It was established in 1985 by Hans-Christoph Rademann and students of the Dresden Carl Maria von Weber Musikhochschule. The repertoire of the choir ranges from music of the Renaissance to the contemporary, with interpretations of romantic choral works awarded special prizes in international competitions, and first performances of contemporary works encouraged by an award from the Ernst-von-Siemens Foundation. In addition to a cappella work the choir works together with the Dresden Baroque Orchestra and the Dresden Early Music Ensemble, and plays an important part in the promotion of early music in Saxony. The versatility of the ensemble is demonstrated in numerous broadcasts and recordings. - Naxos