Vocal Group Concert Clemens, Adam Riis & Carsten Seyer-Hansen - Distler: Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10 (2023) [24/192]

Superbly crafted choral music and a rare recording of a neglected masterwork! "The inspiration for Hugo Distler’s gem of a Christmas narrative can be found in the German-language protestant sacred music of the early baroque era, especially the music of Heinrich Schütz. Drawing on Schütz’s example, Distler composed his Christmas story exclusively for vocalists – soloists and a 4-8-voiced ensemble – in what is, in Distler’s own words, described as an “Oratorium mit kammermusika- lishem Charakter”.

We also hear parts of the beautiful choral Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, which ap- pears seven times during the course of the narrative. – every time in a new har- monic colour.

The story of Hugo Distler’s life is a tragic one. Born in Nuremburg in 1908, he would go on to teach at the School for Church Music in Spandau before being ap- pointed professor of church music in Stuttgart in 1940. Distler, who was a deeply religious man, has been recognized as a forerunner of the New German Church Music, an important musical movement which developed in the 1930s. The Nazis stigmatized Distler’s compositions as “degenerate art”, and when he received his conscription papers, he took his life. Sadly, Distler’s music is seldom performed outside of Germany even to this day.

Hailed by Gramophone as “a choir worth listening to for their beautiful singing, which can deliver performances of pure, natural eloquence,” the 16 voices of the award-winning vocal ensemble Concert Clemens, founded by conductor Carsten Seyer-Hansen in 1997, has established itself as one of the leading vocal ensembles in Scandinavia. Their stylistic versatility has been seen in numerous collaborations exploring the connections between jazz and classical music as well as note-per- fect interpretations of standard repertoire. The evangelist, tenor Adam Riis, is one of Denmark’s leading voices.

Tracklist:
01. Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10: No. 1, Das Volk, so im Finstern wandelt, siehet
02. Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10: No. 2, Es ist ein Ros entsprungen
03. Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10: No. 3, Es war gesandt der Engel Gabriel von Gott
04. Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10: No. 4, Das Röslein, das ich meine
05. Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10: No. 5, Maria aber stand auf in den Tagen und ging auf
06. Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10: No. 6, Meine Seele erhebt Gott, den Herren
07. Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10: No. 7, Es begab sich aber zu der Zeit, daß ein Gebot
08. Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10: No. 8, Das Blümelein so kleine
09. Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10: No. 9, Und es waren Hirten in derselben Gegend auf
10. Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10: No. 10, Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe und Friede auf
11. Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10: No. 11, Lasset uns nun gehen gen Bethlehem
12. Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10: No. 12, Die Hirten zu der Stunden
13. Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10: No. 13, Da Jesus geboren war zu Bethlehem im
14. Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10: No. 14, Wo ist der neugeborne König der Juden?
15. Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10: No. 15, Zu Bethlehem im jüdischen Lande
16. Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10: No. 16, Denn also stehet geschrieben durch den Propheten
17. Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10: No. 17, Lob, Ehr sei Gott, dem Vater
18. Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10: No. 18, Und siehe, ein Mensch war zu Jerusalem, mit
19. Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10: No. 19, So singen wir all Amen
20. Die Weihnachtsgeschichte, Op. 10: No. 20, Also hat Gott die Welt geliebet


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