Thomas Selle, Weser-Renaissance, Manfred Cordes - Historia Der Auferstehung: Historia, Sacred Concertos & Motets For Easter

Published Wednesday 7th April 2010
Thomas Selle, Weser-Renaissance, Manfred Cordes - Historia Der Auferstehung: Historia, Sacred Concertos & Motets For Easter
Thomas Selle, Weser-Renaissance, Manfred Cordes - Historia Der Auferstehung: Historia, Sacred Concertos & Motets For Easter

STYLE: Choral
RATING 5 5 5 5 5
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 93678-
LABEL: CPO 7773962
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 1

Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

This CD is the fifth in a series that surveys the sacred music that was produced in and for Hamburg from the years 1600 to 1800 when the post of city church music director offered the holder opportunities to shape the musical worship in all the churches in Hamburg and to influence much of what was happening elsewhere. And therein lies the weakness of this CD: it is just too obscure for every day enjoyment. No doubt musicologists and other historians are fascinated by what is revealed but for the non-specialist it is all too much, even for one who is quite fond of Baroque. Thomas Selle (1599-1663) was a native of Zorbig, Saxony, and was appointed to the post of church and city music director in Hamburg in 1664. He was a competent administrator and fund-raiser and no doubt his successors in the post (including Georg Philipp Telemann and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach) were grateful for the good foundations he built. But what of the music? It is a pleasant enough selection of pieces for Easter. At no point did I want to use the fast-forward button but, having reached the end, neither did I want to press repeat. The musicianship on display from Weser-Renaissance of Bremen under the baton of Manfred Cordes is first rate and we would certainly like to hear more but just not from this particular composer, may he rest in peace.

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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