Joseph Haydn: Missa cellensis : Missa Cellensis in honorem BVM. Cäcilienmesse

When Joseph Haydn assumed the position as music director of the Court of Esterházy in 1766, following the death of his predecessor, Gregor Joseph Werner, he began by composing one of his first and most extensive Missa solemnis. The title “Missa Cellensis” [later also known as the “Cecilian Mass”] and the date of an autograph score suggest that this work was probably commissioned by Prince Nicolaus Esterházy for the 600th anniversary of the pilgrimage church Mariazell located in Styria. With regard to the scoring as well as form, this Mass is still in the tradition of the late baroque “number mass.” In contrast to previous “mixed” versions based on various sources, the newedition follows the authentic [original] version using the most reliable sources.

Schöpfungsmessen von Luigi Gatti und Joseph Haydn

An original, a quotation and an arrangement: The Creation Masses by Luigi Gatti and Joseph Haydn both allude to Haydn´s Schöpfung. Luigi Gatti [1740-1817] used entire movements from Die Schöpfung and sensitively adapted them to the liturgical text of the Ordinary. Haydn, on the other hand, quoted directly from the oratorio in his mass. Thus, in the Gloria a quotation is heard from the duet „Holde Gattin, dir zur Seite.“ The CD originated as a live recording of a performance in the Frauenkirche Dresden by the Dresden Kreuzchor and the Dresden Philharmonie.

Joseph Martin Kraus: Streichquartette

Kraus's dates of birth and death are practically identical with those of Mozart: Both composers were born in 1756 and Kraus died just one year after his great contemporary. Thus, posterity has begun to regard him as the “Odenwald Mozart.” However, that which to some listeners may appear to be “ like Mozart” belonged, for the most part, to the common musical language of the era which Kraus shared with Mozart and with many other composers. In all the essential aspects of his creative output Kraus proves to be a composer of great originality, which is clearly evident in his string quartets. Three of the works on this CD are from the “Six Quatuors Concertants” op. 1, publishedin 1784 by the Viennese publisher Hummel. These quartets appeared in two separate editions: One edition was printed with the customary French title French, while the other contained a title page printed in Swedish, with a dedication to Kraus’s royal patron and employer, Gutav III. The remaining two quartets on this recording have survived only as autographs. The Salagon Quartet is an ensemble with four experienced and dedicated chamber musicians who have performed throughout the world in the most renowned chamber orchestras and ensembles. Their artistic ideal is based on the transparent, eloquent and richly-colored manner of playing which has developed through the use of instruments appropriate to the historical period and through the careful consideration of historical performance practice over the past few decades.

Weltliche Chormusik a cappella und mit Klavier

In addition to his more famous sacred vocal works, Heinrich von Herzogenberg also composed numerous works in the field of secular choral music which were highly regarded by Joseph Joachim and Philipp Spitta, among others. For the first time, these works for a cappella choir or with piano accompaniment are made available here in a collection for practical choral performance.

Händel/Mendelssohn: Dettinger Te Deum

The present recording honors three important composers celebrating major anniversaries in 2009: Handel, Mendelssohn and Haydn. George Frideric Handel’s Dettinger Te Deum is presented here not in its original version, but rather in an arrangement by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, who rendered outstanding service to music not only through the revival of Bach’s choral works, but also through those of Handel. In addition, The Storm, the little-known choral work by Joseph Haydn, is also to be heard here. He composed it during his first visit to England and later arranged it for a large ensemble. The CD is rounded off with an homage by Luigi Cherubini to Joseph Haydn, which he had composedas a result of the mistaken report in 1805 of Haydn’s death. The piece was first performed after Haydn had died. Nicholas McGegan conducts these performances with renowned soloists, the FestspielOrchester Göttingen and the NDR Chor [North German Radio Choir].

Bach-Rezeption im Umkreis Franz Liszts : Joseph Joachim Raff und Hans von Bülow

Choral collection Great Opera Choruses : Mozart · Haydn

The collection includes 19 opera choruses by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Haydn, arranged for choir with piano accompaniment. The most beautiful choruses from the most popular of Mozart's operas are published in one volume, together with opera choruses by Joseph Haydn. While since they were first composed it would be difficult to imagine the opera repertoire without most of Mozart's operas, in the case of Haydn there are still unknown treasures waiting to see the light of day. But even among Mozart's works it is still possible to make new discoveries. All of the choruses in this varied collection of both known and unknown works by these two great masters contain pianoaccompaniments and the original singing texts, as well as German translations (where applicable). The piece for four-part mixed choir range from easy to mid-level difficulty. A supplementary economical edition for choir (editionchor, without piano accompaniment) has also been published. All the choruses in this colorful mixture of well known and unknown by the two great masters have piano accompaniment and the original text, as well as German singing translations (where applicable).

Lasst uns das Kindlein wiegen

The latest CD by the Alsfelder Vokalensemble under their long-standing conductor Wolfgang Helbich presents a number of choral music rarities for Advent and Christmas by composers such as Georg Joseph Vogler, Valentin Rathgeber, Max Reger and many others, which are truly worth hearing. The flow of this diversely compiled program is intermittently varied by organ and soloistic vocal works. The present CD is also, in a way, the artistic legacy of the conductor who unexpectedly passed away in April 2013, shortly after completing this recording.

Chorbuch Mozart / Haydn VII [Kanonsammlung]

Volume VII of the Mozart · Haydn series of choral books is a collection from a genre to which all of the great composers have devoted themselves to a greater or lesser degree: It contains the complete vocal canons of W. A. Mozart and Joseph Haydn, as well as a selection from the prodigious output of canons by Johann Michael Haydn. Created primarily for music making among friends, these canons reveal the contrapuntal mastery of their creators, but also the capricious, witty and occasionally suggestive texts.

Chorbuch Mozart / Haydn VI [weltliche Werke TTBB]

For social gatherings, gentlemen’s evenings with his friends, Johann Michael Haydn wrote settings of German songs for equal voices, and thus he founded the new genre of the men’s quartet. Volume VI of the Mozart · Haydn series brings together works from the early years of the men’s quartet, including Johann Michael Haydn’s most beautiful pieces for men’s choir, arrangements as well as original compositions by Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his son Franz Xaver. The themes of the Lieder are varied: songs of love, nature, friendship, and of course, wine

Chorbuch Mozart / Haydn IV [weltliche Werke SATB]

With great success Carus-Verlag published the Choral collections Mozart · Haydn Vol. I III for the Mozart year 2006, with sacred works by the father and son Mozart and the brothers Joseph and Michael Haydn. For the fourth volume, secular choral works for mixed choir a cappella and with accompaniment of a keyboard instrument have been prepared. Original pieces, among them several choral songs by Michael Haydn published here for the first time, are joined by arrangements. Musically and literarily this collection contain a broad and varied repertoire: easily performable music for home or for social occasions, in which cheerful and erotic as well as meditative and pensive themes appear.

Kraus: Der Tod Jesu [Carus Classics]

On the occasion of its 40th anniversary Carus has initiated a new series Carus Classics, featuring outstanding CD productions from the past library of recordings. This exclusive collection, designed by Friedrich Forssman and Cornelia Feyll, is presented in high-quality DigiPacs and each CD includes an extensive booklet. Joseph Martin Kraus' oratorio Der Tod Jesu reflects the visions of new horizons represented by the ‘Sturm und Drang’ era in the second half of the 18th century. The remaining three works on this CD are late works which Kraus composed in the service of King Gustav III at the Swedish Court. This successful recording contains valuable repertoire.

Requiem

Joseph Martin Kraus [1756 1792] composed his Requiem in 1775at the age of 19 for the parish church in his hometown of Buchen, Odenwald. This followed the Miserere of 1773, and is the second of his surviving sacred compositions. Already in this early work Kraus shows that he was a representative of the musical “Sturm und Drang.” With all its youthful unconcern towards compositional technique, this music displays his seriousness and strength of expression, together with a dark instrumental timbre, as well as an abruptness or at times brusqueness. The publication of the Requiem in the Complete Edition is the first historical and critical edition of the work

Chorbuch Mozart/Haydn III [geistliche Werke SATB

The choral collection Mozart · Haydn contains sacred music of two famous pairs of composers from the Viennese classical school: father and son Leopold and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the brothers Joseph and Johann Michael Haydn. Works selected for this collection include Latin and German settings, canons, motets and movements from the Ordinary of the Mass for a cappella choir or with keyboard accompaniment. The choice of works has been made not only with a view to the broadest possible practical use, but also to providing a selection ranging in difficulty from easy to moderately difficult. This compilation of both famous and little-known works offers a broad insight into therepertoire of church music from the Viennese classical school.

Miserere

The composer Joseph Martin Kraus was born in the same year as Mozart, and like Salzburg’s famous son, he was highly gifted and died too young. But in recent years he has received more attention. And rightly so! The Miserere was composed in 1773 during his student years in Erfurt and is evidence of his technical abilities at the age of just seventeen. Even in this early work Kraus showed himself to be a true exponent of the musical “Sturm und Drang” movement. For all its youthful carefreeness and originality in terms of compositional technique, the music is characterised by great seriousness and depth of expression, abruptness, and at times also brusqueness.

Chorbuch Mozart-Haydn I -geistliche Werke SSA-TTB

The choral collection Mozart · Haydn contains sacred music of two famous pairs of composers from the Viennese classical school: father and son Leopold and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the brothers Joseph and Johann Michael Haydn. Works selected for this collection include Latin and German settings, canons, motets and movements from the Ordinary of the Mass for a cappella choir or with keyboard accompaniment. The choice of works has been made not only with a view to the broadest possible practical use, but also to providing a selection ranging in difficulty from easy to moderately difficult. This compilation of both famous and little-known works offers a broad insight into therepertoire of church music from the Viennese classical school.

Weihnachtslieder aus aller Welt, Vol. 1

This CD is available in an English version: Carus 83.026. When the summer heat shimmers above the vastness of the Australian bushland, when sleigh bells ring joyfully through the snow covered forest of Estonia, when people in Mexico portray the pilgrimage of Mary and Joseph, and families in Denmark dance around the Christmas tree, then it is Christmas time, then the whole world celebrates and sings. The Calmus Ensemble has recorded a selection of the most beautiful Christmas carols from all over the world exclusively for this CD collection. The CD contains carols from Denmark, Germany, England, France, Ireland, Croatia, North America, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia,Sweden and Spain as well as Silent Night in several languages. With this recording the prize-winning Liederprojekt, promoting singing with children, is being continued.

Rheinberger: Missa et Motetti [Musica Sacra IX]

Highly regarded as a composer, and a much sought after teacher of composition, Joseph Gabriel Rheinberger [1839 1901] was of great importance, with European stature. His more than 200 sacred works represent a significant contribution to church music of the 19th century. For many years Carus has made a name for itself through the rediscovery of this musical treasure. The basis for the CD series “Musica Sacra” is the Complete Edition of Rheinberger’s works, which has also been published by Carus. In addition to three motets, the present CD in this series also contains Rheinberger’s final, unfinished setting of the Mass composed in the year of his death; itincludes the Credo, which was reconstructed using his sketches. The works on this CD, performed by Georg Grün with his KammerChor Saarbrücken, are primarily world premiere recordings.

Weihnachtslieder aus aller Welt, Vol. 2

This CD is available in an English version: Carus 83.027. When the summer heat shimmers above the vastness of the Australian bushland, when sleigh bells ring joyfully through the snow covered forest of Estonia, when people in Mexico portray the pilgrimage of Mary and Joseph, and families in Denmark dance around the Christmas tree, then it is Christmas time, then the whole world celebrates and sings. The Athesinus Consort Berlin, conducted by Klaus-Martin Bresgott, has recorded a ­selection of the most beautiful Christmas carols from all over the world exclusively for this CD collection. The CD contains carols from all the continents, from Denmark, Sweden, Finland andLatvia, from Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland, from France, Spain, Italy, England and the Netherlands as well as Guinea, Korea, Australia, Canada and Venezuela. With this recording the prize-winning Liederprojekt, promoting singing with children, is being continued.