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Luther Collage / Calmus Ensemble
Carus

Luther Collage / Calmus Ensemble

$20.99

Details

Composer
LUTHER, MARTIN
Artist
CALMUS ENSEMBLE
Format
CD
Label
Carus
Released
Mar 03, 2017
Catalog #
CV83478
UPC
4009350834781

About

The 500th anniversary of the generally agreed beginning of the Reformation–when Martin Luther published his famous “disputations” (the Ninety-five Theses) in October, 1517–not surprisingly has sparked an outpouring of recordings focused not on the Reformation but on Luther’s justly famous chorales and the many settings and re-imaginings by numerous other composers, from the 16th century to the present. This program follows that line, except it doesn’t feature a choir, neither is there an organ or instrumental ensemble in sight.

Calmus is a vocal ensemble with one soprano and four guys who cover the rest of the parts (countertenor, tenor, baritone, bass). Together they take on everything from cantata movements by Bach, motets by numerous composers (from Praetorius and Schütz to Mendelssohn and Brahms), and even organ chorale preludes, the latter sung in a cool, sensuous Swingle Singers style, enlivened by impeccably tuned, complementary vocal timbres. Notable among these are a couple by Bach–BWV 599 and 659 (sound clip)–and several by Carl Piutti, a 19th-century German composer/organist, who wrote more than 200 organ preludes and did serious time at the Leipzig Thomaskirche, beginning in 1880.

Although this program is very thoughtfully based on Luther’s hymns–beginning with settings of the classic Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott and proceeding through Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, Christ lag in Todesbanden, and several others, all arranged in neatly flowing sections, following the church year from Advent through Pentecost, it’s really about excellent ensemble singing, the art of coordinating and balancing voices, developing and shaping musical interpretations, and using the unique aspects and qualities of the voice to illuminate and give life to words and music. And these singers demonstrate this at every turn and phrase, capturing the glory and grandeur of all manner of musical conceptions–and they do endings in a manner that makes you just want to savor every last note and chord.

It takes a very accomplished ensemble to successfully juxtapose so many styles and settings of these great hymns, and the Calmus Ensemble does it with world-class expertise and just the right amount of charm–yet I have to say, that although every one of these singers is excellent, soprano Anja Pöche, with her seemingly effortless technique and gorgeous sound (not to mention a true, untempered sense of intonation) is a particular treasure. Enthusiastically recommended.

– ClassicsToday (David Vernier)

Tracklist 40 tracks

  1. 1 Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott 00:48
    Track
    1
    Title
    Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Martin Luther
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  2. 2 Mit unsrer Macht ist nichts getan 01:26
    Track
    2
    Title
    Mit unsrer Macht ist nichts getan
    Duration
    01:26
    Composer
    Stephan Mahu
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  3. 3 Und wenn die Welt voll Teufel war 00:48
    Track
    3
    Title
    Und wenn die Welt voll Teufel war
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Martin Luther
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  4. 4 Das Wort sie sollen lassen stahn 01:31
    Track
    4
    Title
    Das Wort sie sollen lassen stahn
    Duration
    01:31
    Composer
    Martin Luther
  5. 5 Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 599 (arr. for vocal ensemble) 01:53
    Track
    5
    Title
    Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 599 (arr. for vocal ensemble)
    Duration
    01:53
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  6. 6 Missa in contrapuncto: Kyrie 03:45
    Track
    6
    Title
    Missa in contrapuncto: Kyrie
    Duration
    03:45
    Composer
    Johann Caspar Ferdinand Fischer
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  7. 7 Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland 00:44
    Track
    7
    Title
    Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
    Duration
    00:44
    Composer
    Johann Hermann Schein
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  8. 8 Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659 03:14
    Track
    8
    Title
    Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659
    Duration
    03:14
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  9. 9 Kristallen den Fina (arr. G. Eriksson for vocal ensemble) 04:59
    Track
    9
    Title
    Kristallen den Fina (arr. G. Eriksson for vocal ensemble)
    Duration
    04:59
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  10. 10 No. 53, Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (Verse 4 "Dein Krippen glänzt hell und klar") 00:28
    Track
    10
    Title
    No. 53, Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (Verse 4 "Dein Krippen glänzt hell und klar")
    Duration
    00:28
    Composer
    Michael Praetorius
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  11. 11 No. 55, Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (Verse 5 "Lob sei Gott, dem Vater ton") 01:52
    Track
    11
    Title
    No. 55, Nun komm der Heiden Heiland (Verse 5 "Lob sei Gott, dem Vater ton")
    Duration
    01:52
    Composer
    Michael Praetorius
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  12. 12 Choralvorspiele, Op. 34 (Excerpt) [1] 01:07
    Track
    12
    Title
    Choralvorspiele, Op. 34 (Excerpt) [1]
    Duration
    01:07
    Composer
    Karl Piutti
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  13. 13 A solis ortus cardine 00:48
    Track
    13
    Title
    A solis ortus cardine
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  14. 14 Beatus auctor saeculi 00:57
    Track
    14
    Title
    Beatus auctor saeculi
    Duration
    00:57
    Composer
    Guillaume Dufay
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  15. 15 Castae parentis viscera 00:45
    Track
    15
    Title
    Castae parentis viscera
    Duration
    00:45
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Performer
    Anja Pöche
  16. 16 Christum wir sollen loben schon, BWV 121 02:46
    Track
    16
    Title
    Christum wir sollen loben schon, BWV 121
    Duration
    02:46
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  17. 17 Lob, Ehr und Dank sei dir gesagt, BWV 121 00:59
    Track
    17
    Title
    Lob, Ehr und Dank sei dir gesagt, BWV 121
    Duration
    00:59
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  18. 18 Jesu tibi sit gloria 00:48
    Track
    18
    Title
    Jesu tibi sit gloria
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  19. 19 Choralvorspiele, Op. 34 (Excerpt) [1] 01:15
    Track
    19
    Title
    Choralvorspiele, Op. 34 (Excerpt) [1]
    Duration
    01:15
    Composer
    Karl Piutti
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  20. 20 Choralvorspiele, Op. 34 (Excerpt) [2] 01:35
    Track
    20
    Title
    Choralvorspiele, Op. 34 (Excerpt) [2]
    Duration
    01:35
    Composer
    Karl Piutti
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  21. 21 Geystliches gesangk Buchleyn: Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin 01:03
    Track
    21
    Title
    Geystliches gesangk Buchleyn: Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin
    Duration
    01:03
    Composer
    Johann Walter
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  22. 22 No. 1, Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin (Verse 4 "Das macht Christus, wahr' Gottes Sohn) 01:03
    Track
    22
    Title
    No. 1, Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin (Verse 4 "Das macht Christus, wahr' Gottes Sohn)
    Duration
    01:03
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  23. 23 Er ist das Heil und selig Licht 01:58
    Track
    23
    Title
    Er ist das Heil und selig Licht
    Duration
    01:58
    Composer
    Max Reger
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  24. 24 3 Motets, Op. 69: No. 1. Nunc dimittis, "Herr, nun lassest du deinen Diener in Frieden fahren" 05:05
    Track
    24
    Title
    3 Motets, Op. 69: No. 1. Nunc dimittis, "Herr, nun lassest du deinen Diener in Frieden fahren"
    Duration
    05:05
    Composer
    Felix Mendelssohn
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  25. 25 Christ lag in Todesbanden 01:21
    Track
    25
    Title
    Christ lag in Todesbanden
    Duration
    01:21
    Composer
    Johannes Eccard
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  26. 26 Christ lag in Todes Banden, BWV 4: Versus 2: Duet: Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt 04:07
    Track
    26
    Title
    Christ lag in Todes Banden, BWV 4: Versus 2: Duet: Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt
    Duration
    04:07
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  27. 27 Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn 01:25
    Track
    27
    Title
    Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn
    Duration
    01:25
    Composer
    Johann Walter
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  28. 28 Versus 4: Es war ein wunderlicher Krieg 02:13
    Track
    28
    Title
    Versus 4: Es war ein wunderlicher Krieg
    Duration
    02:13
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  29. 29 Versus 7: Chorale: Wir essen und wir leben wohl 01:06
    Track
    29
    Title
    Versus 7: Chorale: Wir essen und wir leben wohl
    Duration
    01:06
    Composer
    Johann Sebastian Bach
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  30. 30 Veni Creator Spiritus (Gregorian Chant) 02:12
    Track
    30
    Title
    Veni Creator Spiritus (Gregorian Chant)
    Duration
    02:12
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  31. 31 Komm, Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist 00:24
    Track
    31
    Title
    Komm, Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist
    Duration
    00:24
    Composer
    Sethus Calvisius
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  32. 32 Denn du bist der Tröster genannt 00:48
    Track
    32
    Title
    Denn du bist der Tröster genannt
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Johannes Eccard
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  33. 33 Zünd uns ein Licht an im Verstand 00:54
    Track
    33
    Title
    Zünd uns ein Licht an im Verstand
    Duration
    00:54
    Composer
    Balthasar Resinarius
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  34. 34 Lehr uns den Vater kennen wohl 00:49
    Track
    34
    Title
    Lehr uns den Vater kennen wohl
    Duration
    00:49
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  35. 35 Gott Vater sei Lob und dem Sohn 00:28
    Track
    35
    Title
    Gott Vater sei Lob und dem Sohn
    Duration
    00:28
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  36. 36 Per te sciamus da patrem 01:45
    Track
    36
    Title
    Per te sciamus da patrem
    Duration
    01:45
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  37. 37 No. 4. Verleih uns Frieden genadiglich, SWV 372 02:17
    Track
    37
    Title
    No. 4. Verleih uns Frieden genadiglich, SWV 372
    Duration
    02:17
    Composer
    Heinrich Schütz
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  38. 38 No. 5. Gib unsern Fursten und aller Obrigkeit Fried und gut Regiment, SWV 373 02:09
    Track
    38
    Title
    No. 5. Gib unsern Fursten und aller Obrigkeit Fried und gut Regiment, SWV 373
    Duration
    02:09
    Composer
    Heinrich Schütz
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  39. 39 Da pacem domine 04:25
    Track
    39
    Title
    Da pacem domine
    Duration
    04:25
    Composer
    Arvo Pärt
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble
  40. 40 Verleih uns Frieden gnadiglich 00:48
    Track
    40
    Title
    Verleih uns Frieden gnadiglich
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Martin Luther
    Ensemble
    Calmus Ensemble