Regensburger Domspatzen - Sacred & Secular Vocal Works - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Franz Josef Aumann received his musical training as a choirboy in Vienna, together with Michael Haydn and Johann Georg Albrechtsberger. At the age of 25, he joined St Florian's Abbey, where he took over the choir just two years later and then directed the church music for over four decades. His church music was performed in St Florian's well into the 19th century and Anton Bruckner, who worked there for seven years as the monastery organist, greatly appreciated his works. His great Mass in C is a true 'Missa solemnis' with a magnificent orchestration of oboes, trumpets and timpani and a performance time of over 40 minutes, probably intended for special holidays. Aumann's instrumental music often has a 'twinkle in the eye' alongside virtuoso and ornate passages, the folk music of the region always shines through. This is clearly noticeable in the Cassatio 'La Pastorale', a pastoral piece for four strings and natural horn. It was performed at Schlagl Abbey at Christmas time in 1777 and must have created an exuberant, almost boisterous atmosphere.

The Tölzer Knabenchor hardly needs an introduction. For almost 70 years, it's name has been the epitome of a very special sound, characterized by great homogeneity, luminous treble, precise intonation and clear articulation. Under Michael Hofstetter, who has been the choir's first guest conductor since this summer, the Tölzer Knabenchor now presents - for the first time on the Christophorus tag - an album with motets of the Bach family after an enforced Corona break. The Bach musical dynasty comprises about 80 musicians, and very few of them are still known to us today. This selection brings together motets by the Bach family in the 17th century, beginning with Johann Bach, the great-uncle, and ending with Johann Sebastian Bach as the central figure of this dynasty. It shows the consistently high compositional quality in the tradition of this unique musical family.

Knupfer / Paduch / Johann Rosenmueller Ens - Sacred Cto [COMPACT DISCS] date 04/01/2005