J.S. Bach: H-Moll-Messe cover

J.S. Bach: H-Moll-Messe

Released

The B Minor Mass is something of a greatest hits piece within Bach’s own oeuvre, and is a little confusing. It’s the only full mass he wrote, though he wrote many liturgical works that serve as the constituent parts of a mass. As a Lutheran, the mass was an unusual form to write but it served his purposes as an employee of the church, and this one was somewhat conceptual anyway. At over two hours, it wouldn’t have been suitable for any actual church service. Cantus Cölln, a vocal group founded and directed by Konrad Junghanel, navigate the choral parts with phenomenal delicacy, making the entire journey feel wind-powered, and only electric in affect. These two hours fly by.

Sasha Frere-Jones

Recommended by

Suggestions
Handel: Alexander’s Feast cover

Handel: Alexander’s Feast

Ed Lyon, Edward Lyon, Ludus Baroque, Richard Neville-Towle, Sophie Bevan, William Berger
Insomnia: A Nocturnal Voyage in Song cover

Insomnia: A Nocturnal Voyage in Song

William Berger, Iain Burnside
Donizetti: Imelda de’ Lambertazzi cover

Donizetti: Imelda de’ Lambertazzi

Mark Elder, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Nicole Cabell, James Westman
Handel: Heroes from the Shadows cover

Handel: Heroes from the Shadows

Orfeo 55, Nathalie Stutzmann
Josquin: Motets & Mass Movements cover

Josquin: Motets & Mass Movements

The Brabant Ensemble, Stephen Rice
Purcell: Complete Ayres for the Theatre cover

Purcell: Complete Ayres for the Theatre

Roy Goodman, The Parley of Instruments
Sacred Verdi cover

Sacred Verdi

Antonio Pappano
Vivaldi: Late Violin Concertos cover

Vivaldi: Late Violin Concertos

Venice Baroque Orchestra, Giuliano Carmignola, Andrea Marcon
Lamento cover

Lamento

Romina Basso, Latinitas Nostra
O Solitude cover

O Solitude

Accademia Bizantina, Andreas Scholl