Angelus ad Pastores - Weihnachtsgeschichte / Arman, Bavarian Radio Choir

$15.99
Label
BR Klassik
Release Date
October 6, 2023
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      Peter Maxwell Davis
    • PERFORMER
      Chor Des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      October 06, 2023
    • UPC
      4035719005318
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      BRK900531
    • LABEL
      BR Klassik
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Choral
    Works ⌄

    1. I. Die Botschaft (Revelation)

      Composer: Howard Arman

      Ensemble: soloists Bavarian Radio Chorus

      Performer: Béla Szerényi Jr.

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    2. Veni, redemptor gentium

      Composer: Johann Hermann Schein

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks

      Performer: Lukas Gassner, Hansjörg Profanter, Csaba Wagner, Max Hanft

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    3. II. Der Streit (Conflict)

      Composer: Howard Arman

      Ensemble: soloists Bavarian Radio Chorus

      Performer: Béla Szerényi Jr.

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    4. Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland: Verse 1: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland - Verse 2: Nicht von Manns Blut noch vom Fleisch

      Composer: Johann Hermann Schein

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks

      Performer: Lukas Gassner, Hansjörg Profanter, Csaba Wagner, Max Hanft

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    5. III. Der Traum (The Dream)

      Composer: Howard Arman

      Ensemble: soloists Bavarian Radio Chorus

      Performer: Béla Szerényi Jr.

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    6. Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland: Verse 3: Der Jungfrau Leib schwanger ward

      Composer: Johann Hermann Schein

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks

      Performer: Lukas Gassner, Hansjörg Profanter, Csaba Wagner, Marije Grevink, Christiane Hörr, Max Hanft

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    7. IV. Die Reise (The Journey)

      Composer: Howard Arman

      Ensemble: soloists Bavarian Radio Chorus

      Performer: Béla Szerényi Jr.

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    8. Angelus ad pastores ait

      Composer: Nikolaus Zangius

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks

      Performer: Lukas Gassner, Hansjörg Profanter, Csaba Wagner, Marije Grevink, Christiane Hörr, Max Hanft

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    9. Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland: Verse 7: Dein Krippen glänzt hell und klar

      Composer: Johann Hermann Schein

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    10. V. Zeitstillstand (Time Stops)

      Composer: Howard Arman

      Ensemble: soloists Bavarian Radio Chorus

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    11. Angelus ad pastores ait

      Composer: Hieronymus Praetorius

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks

      Performer: Lukas Gassner, Hansjörg Profanter, Csaba Wagner, Marije Grevink, Christiane Hörr, Max Hanft

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    12. VI. Die Hebamme (The Midwife)

      Composer: Howard Arman

      Ensemble: soloists Bavarian Radio Chorus

      Performer: Béla Szerényi Jr.

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    13. Angelus ad pastores ait

      Composer: Hans Leo Hassler

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks

      Performer: Lukas Gassner, Hansjörg Profanter, Csaba Wagner, Marije Grevink, Christiane Hörr, Max Hanft

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    14. VII. Die Höhle (The Cave)

      Composer: Howard Arman

      Ensemble: soloists Bavarian Radio Chorus

      Performer: Béla Szerényi Jr.

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    15. Angelus ad pastores ait

      Composer: Melchior Vulpius

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks

      Performer: Lukas Gassner, Hansjörg Profanter, Csaba Wagner, Marije Grevink, Christiane Hörr, Max Hanft

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    16. VIII. Die Magier (The Magi)

      Composer: Howard Arman

      Ensemble: soloists Bavarian Radio Chorus

      Performer: Béla Szerényi Jr.

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    17. Da pacem, Domine [Gregorian Chant, 9th Century]

      Composer: Anonymous

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    18. IX. Der Kindermord (Infanticide)

      Composer: Howard Arman

      Ensemble: soloists Bavarian Radio Chorus

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    19. Verleih uns Frieden gnädiglich

      Composer: Johann Hermann Schein

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks

      Performer: Lukas Gassner, Hansjörg Profanter, Csaba Wagner, Max Hanft

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    20. Missa super Angelus ad Pastores: Agnus Dei

      Composer: Hieronymus Praetorius

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks

      Performer: Max Hanft

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    21. Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland: Verse 8: Lob sei Gott dem Vater 'tan

      Composer: Johann Hermann Schein

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    22. Carol: O magnum mysterium

      Composer: Peter Maxwell Davies

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    23. Carol: Haylle, comly and clene

      Composer: Peter Maxwell Davies

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    24. Carol: Alleluia, pro Virgine Maria

      Composer: Peter Maxwell Davies

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks

      Conductor: Howard Arman

    25. Carol: The fader of Heaven

      Composer: Peter Maxwell Davies

      Ensemble: Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks

      Conductor: Howard Arman


In the Revelation of James, an apocryphal gospel that was not included in the Bible, events and details surrounding the birth of Christ are reported that do not appear in the better-known versions of the Christmas story from the gospels of Matthew and Luke. The Christmas story is presented by James in a vivid, dramatic, and almost theatrical manner.

Howard Arman's Christmas Story follows the tradition of works such as Bach's "Christmas Oratorio", where newly-composed settings of the Gospel alternate with chorales. Here, Gregorian and polyphonic chorales as well as several motets from the 17th century are woven into Arman's composition and form a second narrative level. They frame the episodes of the Christmas story and can also be understood as musical reactions to the narrated events.

This new BR-KLASSIK CD is complemented by the chorales from Peter Maxwell Davies' Christmas cantata "O magnum mysterium". Arman contrasts the powerful language and mysticism of James’ gospel by reducing musical means to their essentials: monophonic singing, syllabically conceived solo passages and, as the only accompanying instrument, a hurdy-gurdy, which with its monotonous, archaic sound represents a certain timelessness. All of this results in maximum text comprehensibility, whereby the emotional declamatory singing style almost makes the figures resemble characters in a stage play. A key moment is Joseph's vision shortly before the birth of Christ: time seems to stand still, and the mystical and sublime aspect of this scene is intensified by poetic words full of linguistic contrasts and contradictions. – The chorales and motets integrated into Arman’s Christmas Story gradually develop ever greater polyphony. Thus, three settings by Nicolaus Zangius, Hieronymus Praetorius and Hans Leo Hassler, scored for ever greater numbers of voices, lead to a fourth, ten-part composition by Melchior Vulpius, which concludes with the words "Peace on earth". In its formal layout, Arman's Christmas Story bears similarities to Peter Maxwell Davies' cantata "O magnum mysterium". This work, written in 1960 for the choirmaster of Manchester Cathedral, also consists of chorales and instrumental sonatas, although the order is not compulsory. The four a cappella chorales in particular constitute a self-contained unit in terms of both content and music.