Huelgas Ensemble, Jos van Immerseel & Paul Van Nevel - Max Reger: Melancholy (Vocal Works) (2024) [Digital Download 24/96]

This album features the works of German Romantic composer Max Reger by the Woergas Ensemble, which has made numerous rediscoveries in medieval and Renaissance polyphonic music over the past 50 years. Led by choral work specialist Paul van Nervel, the ensemble departs from the usual repertoire of ancient music to explore Reger's vocal music. Max Reger (1873-1916) is a composer best known for his symphonies and organ works, but his vocal music has been largely ignored. Schoenberg described him as a "genius" and Hindemith called him "the last giant of music. Reger himself wrote that he wanted to be a "breathtaking" composer. Reger was familiar with Bach's polyphony, and in his own compositions he explored the beauty of construction and masterful imitation of melody. This time the Huelgas Ensemble showcases Reger's diversity, from emotionally rich arrangements of folk songs such as "The Little Star" and "I Dreamed a Night Dream" to Renaissance-inspired pieces such as "The Time of Man's Life is Short." The album also includes pieces such as "With Peace and Joy We Go," which reflects the spirit of Bach, and harmonically complex pieces such as "O Death, How Thou Art Bitter," in which Reger explores the limits of sound. Jos van Immerzeel joins as the historically sensitive piano accompanist on the concert grand built by Carl Bechstein in 1870, and as in his performances of Renaissance music, van Nevel, along with the singers, adds a unique touch to the polyphony of this repertoire, beautifully The music is beautifully colored.

Tracklist:
01 - Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin, WoO VI_17, No. 8
02 - Es waren zwei Königskinder, WoO VI_11, No. 8
03 - Der Mensch lebt und bestehet nur eine kleine Zeit, Op. 138, No. 1
04 - Ich sehe dich in tausend Bildern, Op.105, No. 1
05 - Abendgang im Lenz, Op.111b, No. 2
06 - Zur Nacht, Op. 6, No. 2
07 - O Tod, wie bitter bist du, Op.110, No. 3
08 - Das Sternlein, WoO VI_10, No. 2
09 - Lass mich dein sein und bleiben, WoO VI_20, No. 3
10 - Ich hab die Nacht geträumet, WoO VI_11, No. 4
11 - Meine Seele ist still zu Gott, Op.105, No. 2
12 - Trost, Op. 6, No. 1
13 - Abschiedslied_ Was ist es, das so traurig klingt, WoO VI_27


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