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Gottfried August Homilius (1714-1785)

Gottfried August Homilius (1714-1785). Ein Lämmlein geht und trägt die Schuld - Passionskantate HoWV I.2. Carus 83.262 (2 CDs, February 2007). Audio excerpts. Fritz Näf, Basler Madrigalisten, Neue Düsseldorfer Hofmusik. Monika Mauch, soprano; Bogna Bartosz, contralto; Markus Brutscher, tenor; Hans Christoph Begemann, bass. The first recordings of two major works by Homilius, a contemporary of Gluck, CPE Bach, Pergolesi & Jommelli, have been released simultaneously. Both recordings have similar strengths and weaknesses in performance, although the Johannespassion recording is clearly superior in sound quality. Lämmlein, however, is the superior work, IMHO. The libretto is modern and allegorical, while the Johannespassion is a traditional passion oratorio with an Evangelist and named characters. The solo singing on both recordings is generally very good to excellent and probably overall a bit better on the Johannespassion recording. Unfortunately, both conductors cut the best aria in the respective oratorios, both tenor arias, in this one to an A & B section and in the Johannespassion to an A section only. The sudden end is obvious and startling. Other arias are reduced as well, despite ample unused room on the CDs. The choirs are very large, in the early 20th Century tradition. Both works are worthy of new one-to-a-part, complete recordings, but probably will not get them anytime soon. US | UK | DE | FR | CA | JP

Gottfried August Homilius (1714-1785). Johannespassion HoWV I.4. Carus 83.261 (2 CDs, February 2007). Audio excerpts. Roderich Kreile, Dresdner Barockorchester, Dresdner Kreuzchor. Jana Reiner, soprano; Magd: Katja Fischer, soprano; Diener: Franz Vitzthum, countertenor; Evangelist: Jan Kobow, tenor; Jesus: Tobias Berndt, bass; Pilatus: Clemens Heidrich, bass; Knecht: Stephan Keucher, tenor; Petrus: Christian Lutz, tenor. From Carus, you pay less to get more. Because Lämmlein is a hybrid SACD, it costs a bit more than the Johannespassion. However, the quality of this recording is superb, while the Lämmlein recording is merely good, at least on the CD layer. The only audio problem with this recording is overloading of the too numerous boy choristers, which may have been unavoidable. As noted above, this passion deserves a complete, one-to-a-part recording. US | UK | DE | FR | CA | JP

Gottfried August Homilius (1714-1785). Weihnachten an der Dresdner Frauenkirche - Kantaten II. Carus 83.170 (1 CD 2005). Details | Review by Johan van Veen. Peter Kopp, Körnerscher Sing-Verein Dresden, Dresdner Instrumental-Concert. Katja Fischer, soprano; Alexander Schneider, countertenor; Martin Petzold, tenor; Jochen Kupfer, bass. US | UK | DE | FR | CA | JP

Gottfried August Homilius (1714-1785). Musik an der Dresdner Frauenkirche - Kantaten I. Carus 83.183 (1 CD, January 2005). Details. Roderich Kreile, Dresdner Barockorchester, Dresdner Kreuzchor. Vasiljka Jezovsek, soprano; Anne Buter, mezzo-soprano; Hubert Nettinger, tenor; Christian Hilz, bass. US | UK | DE | FR | CA | JP

Gottfried August Homilius (1714-1785). Sehet, welch eine Liebe: Motets. Carus 83.210 (1 CD, November 2004). Details | Review by Johan van Veen. Frieder Bernius, Kammerchor Stuttgart. US | UK | DE | FR | CA | JP

Gottfried August Homilius, Friedrich Ludwig Benda, Johann Kuhnau & Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel. Uns ist ein Kind geboren. Eufoda 1272 (1 CD 1999). Patrick Peire, Collegium Instrumentale Brugense, Capella Brugensis. Greta de Reyghere, soprano; Hilde Coppé, soprano; Lieve Maertens, mezzo-soprano; Arthur Stefanowicz, countertenor; Rodrigo Orrego, tenor; Klaus Mertens, bass. J Kuhnau (?): Uns ist ein Kind geboren; Homilius: Uns ist ein Kind geboren; Stölzel: Kündlich gross ist das gottselige Geheimnis; Benda (?): Gott steigt herab, der Seraph nach. US | UK | DE | FR | CA | JP

Gottfried August Homilius (1714-1785). Matthäuspassion. Berlin Classics BC 1046-2 (2 CDs 1993). Christoph Schoener, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Capella Vocale Leeverkusen. Woman: Ann Monoyios, soprano; Judas: Ulla Groenewold, contralto; Peter: Gerd Türk, tenor; Jesus: Klaus Mertens, bass; Pilate: Hans-Georg Wimmer, bass; Evangelist: Christoph Prégardien, tenor. US | UK | DE | FR | CA | JP

Zelenka. Miserere (ZWV 57, 1738); Hasse, Miserere; Heinichen, Magnificat; & Homilius, Verwundrung, Mitleid, Furcht und Schrecken. Capriccio 10557 (1 CD 1996 (1993)). Hermann Max, Rheinische Kantorei, Dormagener Jugendkantorei, Das Kleine Konzert. Mária Zádori, soprano; Kai Wessel, countertenor; Wilfried Jochens, tenor; Stephan Schreckenberger, bass. US | UK | DE | FR | CA | JP

Gottfried August Homilius (1714-1785). 14 Choral Preludes. Pavane 7271 (1 CD 1992). Jan van Mol, 1727 König organ at Steinfeld Basilica. UK | DE

Gottfried August Homilius (1714-1785). Organ Works - Chorals & Trio. Arion 38552 (1 LP), reissued on ARN 68328 (1 CD). Details. Georges Guillard, organ. US | UK | DE | FR | CA | JP

Books

Uwe Wolf. Thematisch-systematisches Verzeichnis der Werke von Gottfried August Homilius (HoWV). Forthcoming.

Hans John. Der Dresdner Kreuzkantor und Bach-Schüler Gottfried August Homilius. Ein Beitrag zur Musikgeschichte Dresdens im 18. Jahrhundert. 263 pages. Dr. Hans Schneider Verlag GmbH (1980). DE

Sheet Music

Homilius scores and parts published by Carus-Verlag.

www.newolde.com/homilius.htm