Cantatas for Advent and Christmas by German composers from the 17th century. We begin and end with works by composers who worked as Thomas cantors in Leipzig: Sebastian Knüpfer and Johann Kuhnau.
In between, three cantatas by two composers who became known mainly for their organ music: Dieterich Buxtehude and Georg Böhm.
Sebastian Knüpfer (1633-1676)
Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her” 2.
The King’s Consort olv. Robert King
(CD: “Sacred Music by Sebastian Knüpfer” – Hyperion CDA67160, 2000)
Dieterich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
2. Cantata “Wie soll ich dich empfangen”, BuxWV 109
Bettina Pahn and Dorothee Wohlgemut, soprano. Klaus Mertens, bass. The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir conducted by Ton Koopman
(CDS: “Opera Omnia XVIII, Vocal Works 8”, Challenge Classics CC72257, 2013)
3. Cantata “Das neugeborne Kindelein”, BuxWV 13
Siri Thornhill, soprano. Bogna Bartosz, alto. Jörg Dürmüller, tenor. Klaus Mertens, bass. The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir conducted by Ton Koopman
(CD: “Opera Omnia Xi, Vocal Works 4”, Challenge Classics CC72250, 2009)
Georg Böhm (1661-1733)
4. Cantata “Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland”.
Capella Sancti Georgi, Musica Alta Ripa olv. Ralf Popken
(CD: “Cantatas” – deutsche harmonia mundi 88697405442, 2008)
Johann Kuhnau (1660-1722)
5. Cantata “O heilige Zeit”
Opella Musica, camerata lipsiensis olv. Gregor Meyer
(CD: “Complete Sacred Works Vol. 3” – CPO 555 021-2, 2017)
complement:
Dieterich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
6. In dulci jubilo (BuxWV 197)
Ton Koopman, organ
(CD: “Opera Omnia III, Organ Works 1” – Challenge Classics CC72242, 2007)
In the image: Johann Kuhnau (portrait from the cover of Neue Clavier Ubung, colour version Sotheby’s)
