Bach Cantata #4 and More

This week on Going Beyond Words and ACDA ChoralNet Radio, Host Stan Schmidt introduces us to a new voice and a new choir to Western audiences.

Estonian Pärt Uusberg (b. 1986) is a well-known film actor, as well as a composer. In 2017, the Collegium Musicale carried the coveted Silver Rose Bowl of the EBU competition “Let the Peoples Sing” home to Tallinn. This wonderful ensemble is led by Endrik Üksvärav. On this broadcast you will hear two of Uusberg’s compositions: “Muusika” (2008) and “In Paradisum,” brought forth in 2016. It is on the Toccata Classics label. This CD is the Choral Music of the Composer, Volume One.  

I’ve decided to bring back a real classic by Henry Purcell, “My Beloved Spake” from the song of Solomon from Proverbs. It is performed by the Deller Consort. Another solid ensemble is the Riga Chamber Choir. On this occasion, they present “Prayer,” by Latvian composer Romualds Jermaks. It goes right to the heart, created in 1931.

Then there are two solid performances by the Iowa State Singers with Dr. James Rodde on the podium. They give us “Cantate Domino” by Ambroz Copi, a recording from 2017, followed by “In Your Light” by Dan Elder, from a concert in 2016. The program comes to a wonderful conclusion with John Eliot Gardiner joins the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists as they recall for us the Chorale Cantata BWV 4 by Johann Sebastian Bach written in 1707/8 and subsequently performed at Leipzig in 1725. Even though this Erato recording was done in 1982, it still sparkles with great musicality, sound, and sensitivity: J. S. Bach Cantata 4 and more. I hope you enjoy the listen.

For a look at the CDs used and a complete list of music heard, go to the blog of WWW.GOINGBEYONDWORDS.COM website and click on show 2528.