Bach: Motets Bwv 225-230 (Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan) (2010)

Bach's motets have been very lucky on disc. This latest version from Masaaki Suzuki and the Bach Collegium Japan is as good as it gets. In addition to the canonic six pieces, BWV 225-230, we also get the much more rarely heard Ich lasse dich nicht BWV Anh. 159, and O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht BWV 118. This brings the playing time of the disc up to more than 75 minutes, and may well prove important to Bach collectors. The singing is uniformly excellent, the small choir and soloists seemingly perfectly scaled to give the more complex pieces, Jesu, meine Freude in particular, plenty of contrast without any cost of contrapuntal clarity.
In the works with double choir, Suzuki has decided to double the first choir with strings, the second with winds, an excellent choice. In the other works he mixes winds and strings, always with an ear to giving each voice its own vivid identity. He doesn't dispute the authenticity of the brief BWV 230 (Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden), and the performance has great spirit and rhythmic verve. Several of these works (Furchte dich nicht BWV 228, for example) were written for funerals, but however solemn the occasion or the mood, the music always soars. BIS's SACD sonics are typically marvelous. Just great!
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TRACKLIST

01 - Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied
02 - Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 225: Wie sich ein Vater erbarmet - Gott, nimm dich ferner unser an
03 - Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 225: Lobet den Herrn in seinen Taten
04 - Komm, Jesu, komm
05 - Komm, Jesu, komm, BWV 229: Drum schliess ich mich in deine Hande
06 - Jesu, meine Freude
07 - Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227: Es ist nun nichts Verdammliches an denen
08 - Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227: Unter deinen Schirmen
09 - Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227: Denn das Gesetz des Geistes
10 - Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227: Trotz dem alten Drachen
11 - Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227: Ihr aber seid nicht fleischlich
12 - Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227: Weg mit allen Schatzen
13 - Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227: So aber Christus in euch ist
14 - Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227: Gute Nacht, o Wesen
15 - Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227: So nun der Geist
16 - Jesu, meine Freude, BWV 227: Weicht, ihr Trauergeister
17 - Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden, BWV 230
18 - Furchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir, BWV 228
19 - Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn, BWV Anh. 159
20 - Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf
21 - Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf, BWV 226: Der aber die Herzen forschet
22 - Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf, BWV 226: Du heilige Brunst, susser Trost
23 - O Jesu Christ, mein Lebens Licht, BWV 118

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