The inspiration for Hugo Distler's gem of a Christmas narrative can be found in the German-language protestant sacred music of the early baroque era, especially the music of Heinrich SchÃ¼tz. Drawing on SchÃ¼tz's example, Distler composed his Christmas story exclusively for vocalists - soloists and a 4-8- voiced ensemble - in what is, in Distler's own words, described as an "Oratorium mit kammermusikalishem Charakter." We also hear parts of the beautiful choral Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, which appears seven times during the course of the narrative. - every time in a new harmonic colour. The story of Hugo Distler's life is a tragic one. Born in Nuremburg in 1908, he would go on to teach at the School for Church Music in Spandau before being appointed professor of church music in Stuttgart in 1940. Distler, who was a deeply religious man, has been recognized as a forerunner of the New German Church Music, an important musical movement which developed in the 1930s. The Nazis stigmatize d Distler's compositions as "degenerate art", and when he received his conscription papers, he took his life. Sadly, Distler's music is seldom performed outside of Germany even to this day. Hailed by Gramophone as "a choir worth listening to for their beautiful singing, which can deliver performances of pure, natural eloquence," the 16 voices of the award-winning vocal ensemble Concert Clemens, founded by conductor Carsten Seyer-Hansen in 1997, has established itself as one of the leading vocal ensembles in Scandinavia. Their stylistic versatility has been seen in numerous collaborations exploring the connections between jazz and classical music as well as note-perfect interpretations of standard repertoire. The evangelist, tenor Adam Riis, is one of Denmark's leading voices. Recorded in the DXD format by the Danish "Wizard of Sound", Preben Iwan, in the resonant sonics of Skt. Markus Kirken, Ã…rhus

Tracklist:

Introduction: Das Volk, So Im Finstern Wandelt (Chorus) [04:10]
Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen (Chorus) [01:24]
Recitative: Es Ward Gesandt Der Engel Gabriel (Narrator, Angel, Maria) [02:47]
Das Roslein, Das Ich Meine (Chorus) [01:23]
Recitative: Maria Aber Stand Auf (Narrator, Elisabeth) [01:08]
Wir Bitten Dich Von Herzen (Maria, Chorus) [01:52]
Recitative: Es Begab Sich Aber Zu Der Zeit (Narrator) [01:41]
Das BlÃ¼melein So Kleine (Chorus) [01:29]
Recitative: Und Es Waren Hirten (Narrator, Angel) [01:58]
Ehre Sei Gott in Der Hohe (Chorus) [01:35]
Lasset Uns Nun Gehen (Chorus) [02:21]
Die Hirten Zu Der Stunden (Chorus) [01:21]
Recitative: Da Jesus Geboren War Zu Bethlehem (Narrator) [00:23]
Wo Ist Der Neugeboren Konig (Chorus) [02:09]
Zu Bethlehem, Um Judischen Lande (Chorus) [01:07]
Recitative: Denn Also Stehet Geschrieben (Narrator, Herodes) [03:02]
Lob, Ehr Sei Gott Dem Vater (Chorus) [02:18]
Recitative: Und Siehe, Ein Mensch War Zu Jerusalem (Narrator, Simeon) [02:13]
So Singen Wir All Amen (Chorus) [01:22]
Also Hat Go TT Die Welt Geliebt (Chorus) [04:30]

UPC: 747313168460
Label: Our Recordings
Release Date: 11.3.23
Format: CD

Distler / Riis / Vocal Group Concert Clemens - Die Weihnachtsgeschichte (CD)