Great Sacred Music airs every Sunday morning from 8 until 11 a.m. eastern on The Classical Station.
Most of the music on this week’s playlist can also be found on Spotify at this link: GSM – April 13, 2014
Also on Sunday evenings you can hear more choral music both sacred and secular on Wavelengths and
Peaceful Reflections beginning at 9 p.m. eastern.
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08:02:00
J.S. Bach: Fantasia super: Valet will ich dir geben, BWV 735
Hans Fagius, organ
1728 Cahamn organ at Leufsta Bruk, Sweden
J.S. Bach: Fantasia super: Valet will ich dir geben, BWV 735
Hans Fagius, organ
1728 Cahamn organ at Leufsta Bruk, Sweden
Michael Teschner: All glory, laud and honor
Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer
Rupert Gough, organ
Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer
Rupert Gough, organ
Orlando Gibbons: Hosanna to the Son of David
Oxford Camerata, Jeremy Summerly
Oxford Camerata, Jeremy Summerly
H. Walford Davies: Psalm 130, “Out of the deep”
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Philip Ledger
Francis Grier, organ
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, Philip Ledger
Francis Grier, organ
Our Palm Sunday program opens with Bach’s chorale prelude
on “All glory, laud and honor” followed by the Teschner tune on
which Bach’s work is based. The Gibbons’ setting of “Hosanna to
the Son of David” continues the triumphal mood of Christ’s entry
into Jerusalem, while Psalm 130 looks ahead to the sad events of Good Friday.
08:18:07
Franz Schubert: Six Antiphonies for Palm Sunday, D. 696
Capella Bavariae, Wolfgang Sawallisch
Franz Schubert: Six Antiphonies for Palm Sunday, D. 696
Capella Bavariae, Wolfgang Sawallisch
John Ireland: My song is love unknown
Choir of St. John’s, Elora, Noel Edison
Paul Halley, organ
Choir of St. John’s, Elora, Noel Edison
Paul Halley, organ
Schubert composed his Palm Sunday Antiphons in 1820. Samuel Crossman
wrote the poetry for “My song is love unknown” in 1664. Paul Halley adorns
John Ireland’s gorgeous hymn-tune with subtle reharmonizations and a stunning
descant.
08:32:25
Sir Edward Bairstow: The Lamentations of Jeremiah
Choir of St. John’s, Elora, Noel Edison
Michale Bloss, organ
Sir Edward Bairstow: The Lamentations of Jeremiah
Choir of St. John’s, Elora, Noel Edison
Michale Bloss, organ
William Horsley: There is a green hill far away
Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer
Rupert Gough, organ
Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer
Rupert Gough, organ
Rene Clausen: O vos omnes
Kansas City Chorale, Charles Bruffy
Kansas City Chorale, Charles Bruffy
The late 19th century English cathedral organist Edward Bairstow infuses
his setting of “The Lamentations of Jeremiah” with gut-wrenching pathos.
Listen to the contrast in moods between Horsley’s treatment of the crucifixion
drama with contemporary American Rene Clausen’s setting of “All you who pass by”.
08:53:02
Thomas Weelkes: Hosanna to the Son of David
Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, Stephen Darlington
Thomas Weelkes: Hosanna to the Son of David
Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, Stephen Darlington
J.S. Bach: Valet will ich dir geben: choralis in pedale, BWV 736
Hans Fagius, organ
1728 Cahamn organ at Leufsta Bruk, Sweden
Hans Fagius, organ
1728 Cahamn organ at Leufsta Bruk, Sweden
We conclude our first hour of this week’s program with music which underscores the
triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
09:01:52
J.S. Bach: Cantata 82a, “Ich habe genug”
Europa Galante, Fabio Biondi
Ian Bostridge, tenor
J.S. Bach: Cantata 82a, “Ich habe genug”
Europa Galante, Fabio Biondi
Ian Bostridge, tenor
This cantata’s text muses about our desire to leave the miseries of this life and be united
with Jesus in heaven.
09:26:39
Felix Mendelssohn: O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden
Chamber Choir of Europe; Wurttemberg Philharmonic, Nicol Matt
Raimund Spogis, baritone
Felix Mendelssohn: O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden
Chamber Choir of Europe; Wurttemberg Philharmonic, Nicol Matt
Raimund Spogis, baritone
Mendelssohn greatly admired Bach’s music. You will hear nods to the baroque master
both in structure and style in this passiontide anthem.
09:41:01
J.S. Bach: Es ist vollbracht ~ St. John Passion, BWV 245
Paris Orchestral Ensemble, John Nelson
Stephanie Blythe, contralto; Jerome Hantai, viola da gamba
J.S. Bach: Es ist vollbracht ~ St. John Passion, BWV 245
Paris Orchestral Ensemble, John Nelson
Stephanie Blythe, contralto; Jerome Hantai, viola da gamba
So many times Bach’s music foreshadows the musical periods and composers who followed
him. “Es ist vollbracht” is a good example of Bach writing in an emotion-charged romantic style.
09:48:21
Frank Martin: Passacaille
James Lancelot, organ
Harrison and Harrison organ in Durham Cathedral, England
Frank Martin: Passacaille
James Lancelot, organ
Harrison and Harrison organ in Durham Cathedral, England
The Swiss-born composer Frank Martin (1890-1974) wrote just two pieces for the organ:
this Pasacaille and an Agnus Dei.
10:01:28
Ernest Bloch: Sacred Service
London Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra, Ernest Bloch
Marko Rothmuller, bass-baritone; Dorothy Bond, soprano; Doris Cowan, contralto
Ernest Bloch: Sacred Service
London Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra, Ernest Bloch
Marko Rothmuller, bass-baritone; Dorothy Bond, soprano; Doris Cowan, contralto
Passover and Holy Week run concurrently this year. We mark Pesach with a performance
from 1950 of Ernest Bloch’s moving “Sacred Service” conducted by the composer.
10:47:30
J.S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 546
Daniel Bishop, organ
Willis organ in Liverpool Cathedral
J.S. Bach: Prelude and Fugue in C minor, BWV 546
Daniel Bishop, organ
Willis organ in Liverpool Cathedral
When I was active as an organist in the Episcopal Church from 1969-1997 I played this
monumental Prelude and Fugue in C minor at the conclusion of Palm Sunday services.
It captures the mood of the triumphal entry into Jersualem as well as the pathos of Good Friday.
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