Weihnachten

$10.00 $13.00

Recorded in the reverberant acoustic of St. James Cathedral in Seattle, Weihnachten presents traditional and contemporary German choral repertoire for the celebration of Christmas and Advent. 

Showcasing the glorious tradition of German a cappella choral music, Weihnachten includes such favorites as In dulci jubilo, Lo how a rose, and Franz Biebl's Ave Maria. The grand style of Baroque cori spezzati (divided choirs) is featured with Heinrich Schütz's Deutsches Magnificat and works by Michael Praetorius.

Also on the CD are motets by Bruckner and Distler (his evocative variations on Lo how a rose, from Die Weihnachtsgeschichte) and Johannes Brahms' Marienlieder. Seattle Pro Musica's Women's Schola performs chant and Renaissance polyphony.

Weihnachten is also available as a digital download through Amazon or to stream on Spotify.

Recorded in the reverberant acoustic of St. James Cathedral in Seattle, Weihnachten presents traditional and contemporary German choral repertoire for the celebration of Christmas and Advent. 

Showcasing the glorious tradition of German a cappella choral music, Weihnachten includes such favorites as In dulci jubilo, Lo how a rose, and Franz Biebl's Ave Maria. The grand style of Baroque cori spezzati (divided choirs) is featured with Heinrich Schütz's Deutsches Magnificat and works by Michael Praetorius.

Also on the CD are motets by Bruckner and Distler (his evocative variations on Lo how a rose, from Die Weihnachtsgeschichte) and Johannes Brahms' Marienlieder. Seattle Pro Musica's Women's Schola performs chant and Renaissance polyphony.

Weihnachten is also available as a digital download through Amazon or to stream on Spotify.

Track Listing

Audio clips will open Soundcloud in a new window.

  1. Resonet in laudibus, 15th Century 
  2. Puer natus in Bethlehem, Michael Praetorius (1571 - 1621)
  3. Wie Schön leuchtet der Morgenstern,  Phillipp Nicolai (1556 - 1608)
  4. Wie Schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, Praetorius
  5. Wachet auf, Nicolai
  6. Wachet auf, Proaetorius
  7. In dulci jubilo, Berlin Codex, 15th Cent.
  8. In dulci jubilo, Praetorius
  9. Deutsches Magnificat, Heinrich Schütz (1585 - 1672)
  10. Marienlieder: Der Englische Gruß, Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)
  11. Marienlieder: Marias Kirchgang
  12. Marienlieder: Der Jäger
  13. Ave Maria, Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)
  14. Sechs Sprüche, Op. 79: Weihnachten, Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847)
  15. Sechs Sprüche, Op. 79: Am Neujahrstage
  16. Sechs Sprüche, Op. 79: Im Advent
  17. Ave Maria, Franz Biebl (1906 - 2001) 
  18. Chorale Motets from Die Weihnachtsgeschichte: Es ist ein Ros entsprugen, Hugo Distler (1908 - 1942)
  19. Chorale Motets from Die Weihnachtsgeschichte: Das Röslein, das ich meine
  20. Chorale Motets from Die Weihnachtsgeschichte: Meine Seele erhebt Gott, den Herren
  21. Chorale Motets from Die Weihnachtsgeschichte: Das Blümelein so kleine
  22. Chorale Motets from Die Weihnachtsgeschichte: Die Hirten zu der Studen
  23. Chorale Motets from Die Weihnachtsgeschichte: Lob, her sei Gott, dem Vater
  24. Chorale Motets from Die Weihnachtsgeschichte: So singen wir all Amen
  25. Stille Nacht (Silent night), Franz Gruber (1787 - 1863)

Reviews

“[Praetorius and Distler] form a powerful climax to the excellent Seattle Pro Musica’s Weihnachten, a finely sung and intelligently programmed sequence matching Renaissance models with later Renaissance-inspired works by Mendelssohn, Bruckner and Brahms.”

—Mark Pappenheim, BBC Music Magazine, December 2003

“Intonation is razor sharp… The sound is warm and reverberant… In short,strongly recommended, both for performances and content.”

—Barry Brenesal, Fanfare, March/April 2003

“A splendid accomplishment. All wonderful Christmas music, none of it heard too often (except, maybe, Silent Night), sung with precision and musicality…a terrific program.”

—Paul L. Althouse, American Record Guide, November/December 2003

“Choral Christmas music enthusiasts will want this…The women have a pure, clear-voiced quality that perfectly suits the music… In these pieces, we hear this very fine choir at its best, in some first-rate and rarely-heard repertoire.”

—David Vernier, Classics Today, 2005