Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

There is not a lot we know for certain about the composer Daniel Bollius: he was born around 1590 and died around 1642, probably in Mainz, where he had entered the services of the Archbishop by 1626. The 'Repræsentatio of St John' must have been composed between 1618 and 1626, the year in which Johann Schweikhard, the dedicatee of the work, died. Bollius is one of the early German exponents of the new Italian style characterised by Monteverdi. His 'Repræsentatio' on the conception and birth of John the Baptist has close ties with the 'Rappresentatione di Anima, et di Corpo' by Emilio de Cavalieri, making it unique for early 17th century Germany and the first ever oratorio to be written by a German composer. The word "oratorio" had not yet been invented but the work fits our definition, being a re-telling of a Bible story in an operatic style. Thus this release by Arno Paduch's Johann Rosenmuller Ensemble fills a gap in what is a probably a very small market. In the history of German Church Music Bollius certainly merits a footnote and now he can be included in the Discography but for the general listener he remains an obscurity. The five brief instrumental "Symphonia" are pleasant and listeners who really cannot get enough early Baroque instrumentals will enjoy them but the main event, the story of John the Baptist as told in Luke's Gospel, is easily summed up in the phrase "worthy but dull". Partly this is my fault: I do not understand German but the failing, if that is not too unfair a description, is mainly in the composer's aim to let the words stand out, meaning that there is a great deal of what we today call operatic recitative and not enough tune. Perhaps we had to have Bollius before we get Bach and no doubt learned scholars will use this CD to illustrate their lectures on 17th century German church music but the rest of us will make our excuses and leave.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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