musica Dei donum
CD reviews
"Ein Stille Nacht in Österreich"
Currende
Dir: Erik Van Nevel
rec: 2023 (live), Leuven
Et'cetera - KTC 1831 (© 2024) (67'04")
Liner-notes: E/NL; lyrics - no translations
Cover & track-list
Spotify
Antonio CALDARA (c1670-1736):
Lauda anima mea (Alleluia);
Johann Joseph FUX (1660-1741):
Canon Johann;
Overture in g minor (K 355) (ouverture);
Franz Xaver GRUBER, arr Erik Van Nevel:
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht (GWV 145);
Jacobus HANDL-GALLUS (1550-1591):
Resonet in laudibus a 5;
Franz Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809):
Hör Nachbar, ach sag mir (H XXIIId,3);
Johann Michael HAYDN (1737-1806):
Heiligste Nacht (MH 461);
Johann Caspar KERLL (1627-1693):
Missa Non sine quare (Gloria);
Philippus DE MONTE (1521-1603):
Stellam quam viderunt magi a 7;
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791):
Misericordias Domini (KV 222);
Serenade in G 'Eine kleine Nachtmusik' (KV 525) (menuetto);
Georg MUFFAT (1653-1704):
Concerto IV in g minor 'Dolce somnum' (sonata);
Gottlieb MUFFAT (1690-1770):
Fugue in G;
Jacob REGNART (1540-1599):
Puer natus est a 6;
trad, arr Erik Van Nevel:
Ach mein Seel, fang an zu singen;
Der Heiland ist geboren;
Leise rieselt der Schnee;
František Ignác Antonín TŮMA (1704-1774):
O magnum mysterium
Emilie De Voght, Renate Weytjens, soprano;
Agnes de Graaff, Kerlijne Van Nevel, mezzo-soprano;
Hans Helsen, tenor;
Arnout Malfliet, bass
Bart Coen, recorder;
Madoka Nakamaru, Johan Van Aken, violin;
Liam Fennelli, Rebecca Lefevre, viola da gamba;
Wouter De Koninck, organ
Since ancient times Advent and Christmas have been the inspiration for music of various kinds. As it is a Christian feast, much music has been written for liturgical use. At the same time, it has always been connected with popular culture, which explains the large repertoire of folk songs, whose content sometimes has little to do with the birth of Christ or its announcement. Such music is often also part of Christmas concerts as they take place at the end of each year. The disc under review is an example. It is a compilation of what was performed during four Christmas concerts in Leuven (Belgium), under the title of "Wintertime in Leuven" in 2023. The programme is a mixture of liturgical and popular music, and spans a period of about three centuries.
We know the ensemble Currende as a specialist in renaissance repertoire. However, it also performs later repertoire, but mainly what is called 'early music'. That is a substantial part of the programme. Philippus de Monte, Jacobus Regnart and Jacobus (Handl-)Gallus represent the renaissance part of the programme. It is probably due to the 'popular' nature of these concerts that the interpretation is less strict than would be the case in a recording of renaissance repertoire. Gallus's setting of Resonet in laudibus is an example: the use of violins is anachronistic, and the participation of a recorder and especially percussion is debatable, to say the least.
There are several pieces which have little or nothing to do with Christmastide. That goes especially for the instrumental items, such as those by Fux, the Muffats and Mozart. Even some vocal items have no Christmas associations, such as the Gloria from the Missa Non sine quare by Johann Caspar Kerll. The same goes for Mozart's motet Misericordias Domini. It is not easy to find pieces for Christmastide from the classical and early romantic period. From that angle it is nice that we get here at least some, not from the pen of some obscure composer almost nobody has ever heard of, but written by the Haydn brothers. Whereas Michael Haydn's Heiligste Nacht has the character of a motet, Joseph Haydn's Cantilena pro Adventu has a popular text: "Listen, neighbour, tell me, what's going on tonight?
How did you spend your time today? I don't know, I dreamed, no, I'm not dreaming anymore, I hear something singing, listen, brother, come here!" Even so, such a song may have been performed in religious services during Christmastide instead of the usual proprium settings.
And these pieces bring us to the traditional part of the programme. The entire concerts were devoted to music from Austria, and so we get here some traditional Austrian songs, arranged by Erik Van Nevel. Obviously the most famous song, Stille Nacht, could not be omitted. Whatever one may think about this song, the original form is always the best. In 2004 the Austrian vocal ensemble Schnittpunktvokal recorded traditional Austrian Christmas songs, and these performances are much closer to the spirit of these songs than what we get here.
Overall, I think that this disc is especially interesting for those who have attended one of the concerts in Leuven. It is advisable to listen to excerpts on Spotify before deciding to purchase it. The performances are alright, but nothing to get excited about.
On a technical note: strictly speaking, the title is incorrect. It should be "einE stille Nacht". It could be correct if it referred to the song of that title, but in that case the title makes little sense.
Johan van Veen (© 2024)
Relevant links:
Currende