lute@abnjh.UUCP (J. Collymore) (07/16/84)
I am trying to figure out which to buy, J.S. Bach's Mass in B Minor, St. Matthew's Passion, or St. Luke's Passion. I have never been overly fond of choral works, but in the past year I have been getting more into them. Before I lay out $25 to $45 dollars for these, I want to be sure that I am getting a work that I will enjoy listening to. In this case, that means that I want one of the above works that has the MOST joyous music (i.e. jubilant fanfares and choruses). The more in the work, the better. Please post or send me mail. Thanks. Jim Collymore
parker@psuvax1.UUCP (07/17/84)
My favorite of the three is easily the B Minor Mass. You should know that the work is a splendid mixture of both the more solemn and the more buoyant of Bach's writing. I find the Saint Matthew's Passion tedious at best. I haven't heard the Saint Luke's in a few years but my impression is the same. I don't understand why you would want to lay out $25 to $45, though. My favorite recording is one by Michel Corboz and the Lausanne Orchestra and Chorus on Erato which lists for $8.98 (if I'm reading the Schwann correctly). This is easily the most joyous and spontaneous sounding recording I have heard. Be warned -- it is not the best performed. The soloists are not great -- in fact barely adequate. The brass are nasal (this works to great effect in the "Cum Sanctus Spiritu". The orchestra is not always together. But the elan of the musicians so wonderful that I just can't praise this recording enough. Don't expect digital sound here, either. We're talking about music, not sound. Leave that for net.audio. By the way, don't waste your money on Neville Marriner's recording despite the glowing critical reviews. This is typical stiff British nonsense and conveys none of the joy of this great work. Bruce Parker
dep@allegra.UUCP (Dewayne E. Perry) (07/19/84)
As a joyful intro to Bach, I would recommend Bach's Magnificat as a marvelous way to start off in Bach choral music - it is much shorter and has some super pieces. If the joyful aspect for choral music is what you are after, any of the masses of Mozart and Haydn will suffice. For Haydn, particularly any of the last six masses. Then progress to Schubert masses and Brahms' LiebesLieder Waltzes. For contemporary choral (emphasis on the joyful part), try Bernstein conducting his Chichester Psalms. Enjoy - it is great stuff - dep
marcus@pyuxt.UUCP (M. G. Hand) (07/22/84)
I, too, enjoy the Bminor more than the St Matt or St Luke - it contains such a range of light and shade. After that you might like to take a listen to Haydn's Nelson mass (3rd) which I very much enjoyed perfoming at one time, and still enjoy listening to it, too. Vivaldi's gloria is pretty much up tempo, too. marcus hand (pyuxt!marcus)