Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713) and Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) were two of the composers most familiar to me in my youth, with their oratorios, concerti grossi and choral compositions, respectively, heard particularly during the Christmas Season. Today’s article will reflect on

St. Matthew Passion: Part 29 Chorale O man, bewail ‘your great sin From St Matthew’s Passion (2013) Released by Harmonia Mundi Bach: St. Matthew Passion: Part 29 Chorale O man, bewail ‘your great sinIt has haunted René Jacobs since childhood:

Throughout his extended Leipzig career, J. S. Bach had a rather uneasy relationship with civic and church authorities. At his election as Cantor of St. Thomas Church in 1723, Bach was cautioned to make compositions that were not theatrical. “In

In his Suite 1922, Paul Hindemith had not only referenced in popular music genres; he also paid homage to the gestures and aesthetic of the high Baroque. Like many composers of the time, Hindemith was looking for greater objectivity and

Chorus: “Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen” John Eliot Gardiner From Bach Cantatas Gardiner (2013) Released by Harmonia Mundi Bach: Chorus – “Gott fähret auf mit Jauchzen”Another masterpiece by John Eliot Gardiner. Official Website

Composed in January and February 1920, Paul Hindemith’s third string quartet was described as “brimming with youthful energy…a thrilling, musical event, real ‘new’ music. Here everything is comprehensible and concrete.” First performed at the Donaueschingen Chamber Music Performances in 1921,

We would be entirely wrong to assume that musical duels were in the exclusive domain of the 19th Century. Far from it, throughout the 17th and 18th Centuries, musicians busily battled in musical contests that measured technical facility and improvisational

Happy New Year to all! What better way to begin the New Year than listening to Bach in a concert you did not expect to be in? On the evening of the 31 December, having wondered from café to café