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Angelus ad Pastores - Weihnachtsgeschichte / Arman, Bavarian Radio Choir
BR Klassik

Angelus ad Pastores - Weihnachtsgeschichte / Arman, Bavarian Radio Choir

Modern Spiritual Dramatic Uplifting Triumphant
$19.99

Details

Composer
Peter Maxwell Davis
Artist
Chor Des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Format
CD
Label
BR Klassik
Released
Oct 06, 2023
Catalog #
BRK900531
UPC
4035719005318

About

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.

Tracklist 25 tracks

  1. 1 I. Die Botschaft (Revelation) 03:09
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Die Botschaft (Revelation)
    Duration
    03:09
    Composer
    Howard Arman
    Performer
    Béla Szerényi Jr.
    Ensemble
    soloists Bavarian Radio Chorus
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  2. 2 Veni, redemptor gentium 02:19
    Track
    2
    Title
    Veni, redemptor gentium
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Johann Hermann Schein
    Performer
    Lukas Gassner, Hansjörg Profanter, Csaba Wagner, Max Hanft
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  3. 3 II. Der Streit (Conflict) 03:36
    Track
    3
    Title
    II. Der Streit (Conflict)
    Duration
    03:36
    Composer
    Howard Arman
    Performer
    Béla Szerényi Jr.
    Ensemble
    soloists Bavarian Radio Chorus
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  4. 4 Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland: Verse 1: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland - Verse 2: Nicht von Manns Blut noch vom Fleisch 00:59
    Track
    4
    Title
    Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland: Verse 1: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland - Verse 2: Nicht von Manns Blut noch vom Fleisch
    Duration
    00:59
    Composer
    Johann Hermann Schein
    Performer
    Lukas Gassner, Hansjörg Profanter, Csaba Wagner, Max Hanft
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  5. 5 III. Der Traum (The Dream) 00:56
    Track
    5
    Title
    III. Der Traum (The Dream)
    Duration
    00:56
    Composer
    Howard Arman
    Performer
    Béla Szerényi Jr.
    Ensemble
    soloists Bavarian Radio Chorus
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  6. 6 Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland: Verse 3: Der Jungfrau Leib schwanger ward 00:41
    Track
    6
    Title
    Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland: Verse 3: Der Jungfrau Leib schwanger ward
    Duration
    00:41
    Composer
    Johann Hermann Schein
    Performer
    Lukas Gassner, Hansjörg Profanter, Csaba Wagner, Marije Grevink, Christiane Hörr, Max Hanft
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  7. 7 IV. Die Reise (The Journey) 02:26
    Track
    7
    Title
    IV. Die Reise (The Journey)
    Duration
    02:26
    Composer
    Howard Arman
    Performer
    Béla Szerényi Jr.
    Ensemble
    soloists Bavarian Radio Chorus
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  8. 8 Angelus ad pastores ait 02:10
    Track
    8
    Title
    Angelus ad pastores ait
    Duration
    02:10
    Composer
    Nikolaus Zangius
    Performer
    Lukas Gassner, Hansjörg Profanter, Csaba Wagner, Marije Grevink, Christiane Hörr, Max Hanft
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  9. 9 Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland: Verse 7: Dein Krippen glänzt hell und klar 00:28
    Track
    9
    Title
    Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland: Verse 7: Dein Krippen glänzt hell und klar
    Duration
    00:28
    Composer
    Johann Hermann Schein
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  10. 10 V. Zeitstillstand (Time Stops) 02:08
    Track
    10
    Title
    V. Zeitstillstand (Time Stops)
    Duration
    02:08
    Composer
    Howard Arman
    Ensemble
    soloists Bavarian Radio Chorus
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  11. 11 Angelus ad pastores ait 02:59
    Track
    11
    Title
    Angelus ad pastores ait
    Duration
    02:59
    Composer
    Hieronymus Praetorius
    Performer
    Lukas Gassner, Hansjörg Profanter, Csaba Wagner, Marije Grevink, Christiane Hörr, Max Hanft
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  12. 12 VI. Die Hebamme (The Midwife) 00:58
    Track
    12
    Title
    VI. Die Hebamme (The Midwife)
    Duration
    00:58
    Composer
    Howard Arman
    Performer
    Béla Szerényi Jr.
    Ensemble
    soloists Bavarian Radio Chorus
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  13. 13 Angelus ad pastores ait 03:57
    Track
    13
    Title
    Angelus ad pastores ait
    Duration
    03:57
    Composer
    Hans Leo Hassler
    Performer
    Lukas Gassner, Hansjörg Profanter, Csaba Wagner, Marije Grevink, Christiane Hörr, Max Hanft
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  14. 14 VII. Die Höhle (The Cave) 01:26
    Track
    14
    Title
    VII. Die Höhle (The Cave)
    Duration
    01:26
    Composer
    Howard Arman
    Performer
    Béla Szerényi Jr.
    Ensemble
    soloists Bavarian Radio Chorus
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  15. 15 Angelus ad pastores ait 03:58
    Track
    15
    Title
    Angelus ad pastores ait
    Duration
    03:58
    Composer
    Melchior Vulpius
    Performer
    Lukas Gassner, Hansjörg Profanter, Csaba Wagner, Marije Grevink, Christiane Hörr, Max Hanft
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  16. 16 VIII. Die Magier (The Magi) 03:38
    Track
    16
    Title
    VIII. Die Magier (The Magi)
    Duration
    03:38
    Composer
    Howard Arman
    Performer
    Béla Szerényi Jr.
    Ensemble
    soloists Bavarian Radio Chorus
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  17. 17 Da pacem, Domine [Gregorian Chant, 9th Century] 00:39
    Track
    17
    Title
    Da pacem, Domine [Gregorian Chant, 9th Century]
    Duration
    00:39
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  18. 18 IX. Der Kindermord (Infanticide) 00:41
    Track
    18
    Title
    IX. Der Kindermord (Infanticide)
    Duration
    00:41
    Composer
    Howard Arman
    Ensemble
    soloists Bavarian Radio Chorus
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  19. 19 Verleih uns Frieden gnädiglich 00:41
    Track
    19
    Title
    Verleih uns Frieden gnädiglich
    Duration
    00:41
    Composer
    Johann Hermann Schein
    Performer
    Lukas Gassner, Hansjörg Profanter, Csaba Wagner, Max Hanft
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  20. 20 Missa super Angelus ad Pastores: Agnus Dei 03:50
    Track
    20
    Title
    Missa super Angelus ad Pastores: Agnus Dei
    Duration
    03:50
    Composer
    Hieronymus Praetorius
    Performer
    Max Hanft
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  21. 21 Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland: Verse 8: Lob sei Gott dem Vater 'tan 00:47
    Track
    21
    Title
    Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland: Verse 8: Lob sei Gott dem Vater 'tan
    Duration
    00:47
    Composer
    Johann Hermann Schein
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  22. 22 Carol: O magnum mysterium 01:43
    Track
    22
    Title
    Carol: O magnum mysterium
    Duration
    01:43
    Composer
    Peter Maxwell Davies
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  23. 23 Carol: Haylle, comly and clene 01:40
    Track
    23
    Title
    Carol: Haylle, comly and clene
    Duration
    01:40
    Composer
    Peter Maxwell Davies
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  24. 24 Carol: Alleluia, pro Virgine Maria 03:20
    Track
    24
    Title
    Carol: Alleluia, pro Virgine Maria
    Duration
    03:20
    Composer
    Peter Maxwell Davies
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Howard Arman
  25. 25 Carol: The fader of Heaven 02:05
    Track
    25
    Title
    Carol: The fader of Heaven
    Duration
    02:05
    Composer
    Peter Maxwell Davies
    Ensemble
    Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
    Conductor
    Howard Arman