J.S. Bach: H-Moll-Messe cover

J.S. Bach: H-Moll-Messe

Released

The B Minor Mass is something of a greatest hits piece within Bach’s own oeuvre, and is a little confusing. It’s the only full mass he wrote, though he wrote many liturgical works that serve as the constituent parts of a mass. As a Lutheran, the mass was an unusual form to write but it served his purposes as an employee of the church, and this one was somewhat conceptual anyway. At over two hours, it wouldn’t have been suitable for any actual church service. Cantus Cölln, a vocal group founded and directed by Konrad Junghanel, navigate the choral parts with phenomenal delicacy, making the entire journey feel wind-powered, and only electric in affect. These two hours fly by.

Sasha Frere-Jones

Recommended by

Suggestions
Haydn: Quatuors, Op. 33 cover

Haydn: Quatuors, Op. 33

Quatuor Mosaïques
Frank Martin: Le vin herbé cover

Frank Martin: Le vin herbé

Berlin RIAS Chamber Choir, Daniel Reuss, Scharoun Ensemble Berlin
Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi - The Four Seasons cover

Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi - The Four Seasons

André de Ridder, Max Richter, Konzerthaus Kammerorchester Berlin, Daniel Hope
Félicien David: Lalla Roukh cover

Félicien David: Lalla Roukh

Opera Lafayette, Ryan Brown
Schoenberg, Sibelius: Violin Concertos cover

Schoenberg, Sibelius: Violin Concertos

Hilary Hahn, Esa-Pekka Salonen
Grechaninov: Passion Week cover

Grechaninov: Passion Week

Charles Bruffy, Kansas City Chorale, Phoenix Chorale
Handel: Tamerlano cover

Handel: Tamerlano

Il Pomo d'Oro, Riccardo Minasi, Xavier Sabata
Francesco Provenzale: La Stellidaura vendicante cover

Francesco Provenzale: La Stellidaura vendicante

Alessandro de Marchi, Academia Montis Regalis