Track Listing

1. Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, motet for chorus, BWV 225 (BC C1): Singet dem Hern ein neues Lied
2. Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, motet for chorus, BWV 225 (BC C1): Wie sich ein Vater erbarmet. Gott, nimm dich ferner unser an
3. Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, motet for chorus, BWV 225 (BC C1): Lobet den Herrn in seinen Taten. Alles, was Odem hat
4. Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf, motet for double chorus, winds, strings & continuo, BWV 226 (BC C2): Der Geist hilft unser Sch
5. Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf, motet for double chorus, winds, strings & continuo, BWV 226 (BC C2): Der aber die Herzen forsc
6. Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf, motet for double chorus, winds, strings & continuo, BWV 226 (BC C2): Du heilige Brunst, s��er
7. Jesu, meine Freude, motet for 5-part chorus, BWV 227 (BC C5): Jesu, meine Freude
8. Jesu, meine Freude, motet for 5-part chorus, BWV 227 (BC C5): Es ist nun nichts Verdammliches
9. Jesu, meine Freude, motet for 5-part chorus, BWV 227 (BC C5): Unter deinem Schirmen
10. Jesu, meine Freude, motet for 5-part chorus, BWV 227 (BC C5): Denn das Gesetz des Geistes
11. Jesu, meine Freude, motet for 5-part chorus, BWV 227 (BC C5): Trotz dem alten Drachen
12. Jesu, meine Freude, motet for 5-part chorus, BWV 227 (BC C5): Ihr aber seid nicht fleischlich
13. Jesu, meine Freude, motet for 5-part chorus, BWV 227 (BC C5): Weg mit allen Sch�tzen
14. Jesu, meine Freude, motet for 5-part chorus, BWV 227 (BC C5): So aber Christus in euch ist
15. Jesu, meine Freude, motet for 5-part chorus, BWV 227 (BC C5): Gute Nacht, o Wesen
16. Jesu, meine Freude, motet for 5-part chorus, BWV 227 (BC C5): So nun der Geist
17. Jesu, meine Freude, motet for 5-part chorus, BWV 227 (BC C5): Weicht, ihr Trauergeister
18. F�rchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir, motet for double chorus, BWV 228 (BC C4): F�rchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir
19. F�rchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir, motet for double chorus, BWV 228 (BC C4): Ich st�rke dich, ich helfe dir auch
20. F�rchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir, motet for double chorus, BWV 228 (BC C4): F�rchte dich nicht, denn ich habe dich erl�set. Herr,
21. Komm, Jesu, komm, motet for chorus & continuo, BWV 229 (BC C3): Komm, Jesu, komm, mein Leib ist m�de
22. Komm, Jesu, komm, motet for chorus & continuo, BWV 229 (BC C3): Der saure Weg wird mir zu schwer
23. Komm, Jesu, komm, motet for chorus & continuo, BWV 229 (BC C3): Du bist der rechte Weg
24. Komm, Jesu, komm, motet for chorus & continuo, BWV 229 (BC C3): Drum schlie� ich mich in deine H�nde
25. Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden, motet for chorus & organ, BWV 230 (BC C6): Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden
26. Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden, motet for chorus & organ, BWV 230 (BC C6): Denn seine Gnade
27. Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden, motet for chorus & organ, BWV 230 (BC C6): Alleluja
28. Ich lasse dich nicht, motet for double chorus (after Johann Christoph Bach), BWV Anh. 159 (BC C9): Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest m
29. Ich lasse dich nicht, motet for double chorus (after Johann Christoph Bach), BWV Anh. 159 (BC C9): Ich lasse dich nicht. Weil du mein

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11988 in Music
• Brand: Bach
• Released on: 2007-05-22
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds

Album Description
An album fans have been waiting for: the legendary Hilliard Ensemble singing seven works that are widely considered to be the peak of vocal music - J.S. Bach's motets. These pieces form an important part of the standard repertoire of all major vocal groups, and the accessible and well-known music will attract audiences beyond core classical listeners. Pieces like "Singet dem Herr nein meues Lied" and "Jesu meine Freude" are among the most popular compositions by Bach, while "Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn" has only recently been acknowledged as an authentic work by Bach. Previous albums from the Hilliard Ensemble featuring the music J.S. Bach, Ricercar and the hit recording Morimur, have sold incredibly well. On this album, the four core Hilliard members (James, Harrold, Covey- Crump and Jones) are joined by four long-standing musical partners for a perfectly balanced and transparent interpretation. For more than 30 years the Hilliard Ensemble has been known as one of the most outstanding vocal groups in the world. Their collaboration with ECM Records began in 1986 and has produced several of the label's signature recordings - Officium (with Jan Garbarek), Morimur, Gesualdo: Tenebrae and many recordings of the music of Arvo Pärt. Recent recordings of music from Machaut (Grammy nominated) and Gombert have met with unanimous critical praise.

Customer Reviews

Hilliard on Bach
I enjoyed the Hilliard's contribution on an earlier album with Bach's BWV 4, and have many of their albums of earlier material. Expectations were set high.

If I had any issues with the interpretation it's with the women singers... in my favorite Motet, BWV 227, the phrasing isn't as smooth and flawless in intonation as the men; I compare this too with my recording with my Harmonia Mundi recording by Herreweghe.

I also get the sense that no one is directing the ensemble... this is not important, unless you hear it... I think with Bach, you have to bring out the lines... and what I do like is the one/part setting. Some double the voices with instruments; only an organ is used here, for one motet.

The recording is beautiful, and well-recorded in a resonant space. By any account it is well done, but I wish certain singers had more wisdom/guile/foresight to sing "out" from the ensemble.

There is some shaping of the dynamics in some numbers, but sometimes the texture becomes dominated with the soprano line.

The sound is easy to beomce addicted to, as is the sound with other Hilliard recordings. Clean, sonorous, and pure. Much to enjoy despite a few reservations.

Great! Each voice part is clear and understandable.
I purchased individual download tracks from this album just to listen to Komm, Jesu, Komm BWV 229. I listened to it while reading along with my vocal score for SATBSATB double choir. Without regard to subjective issues involving musical interpretation etc (which I had none), I could clearly hear and enjoy each of the eight voice parts!

So often in choral recordings, the voice parts are not balanced and you cannot hear all the voice parts all of the time or voice parts are over balanced with orchestration (which this doesn't have).

I liked it so much that I purchased the rest of the album to enjoy the other Bach Motets.

Bach challenge met
The Bach motets are difficult to learn and present. This recording, with counter tenors singing the alto part, does an excellent job, especially with only two people on each part.