The Baroque spirit in all its musical forms. Early Music Festival 2021: Rhetoric in music. The festival theme is: ‘Music speaks… Let’s Talk!, Rhetoric in the Arts’.
In music, rhetoric is the art of persuasion through musical argument. Until the 17th century, music was largely vocal; in the Baroque, rhetoric was applied more radically.
In this period, composers such as Monteverdi, Schütz and Bach used rhetoric in music.
Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)
1. Uit: Vespro della Beata Virgine (1610)
– Antiphona ad psalmum 112
– Laudate Pueri
– Antiphona ad psalmum 112
Catherine Bott, Tessa Bonner, Christopher Robson, Andrew King, John Mark Ainsley, Michael George en Simon Grant, vocals. New London Consort conducted by Philip Pickett
(CD Montverdi Vespro della Beate, Vergine 1610 L’Oiseau Lyre 425 823-2)
Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672)
2. Geistliches Konzert for bass and basso continuo: “Ich liege und Schlafe” (SWV 310)
3. Geistliches Konzert for bass, 4 trombones and basso continuo: “Fili mi, Absalon” (SWV 269)
Harry van der Kamp, bass. Period Instrument Ensemble
(CD Cantatas for bass, Harry van der Kamp. Sony SK 68264)
Giovanni Battista Fontana (1571-1631)
4. Sonata 11 a due canti
Concerto Palatino
(CD Effetti Stravaganze. Accent ACC 94102)
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
5. Cantate “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme”, BWV 140
– Coro: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
– Recitativo: Er kommt, der Brautigam kommt
– Aria: Wann kommst du, mein Heil
– Choral: Zion hört die Wächter singen
– Recitativo: So geh herein zu mir
– Aria: Mein Freund ist mein! Und ich bin sein
– Choral: Gloria sei dir gesungen
Alan Bergius, boy soprano. Kurt Equiluz, tenor. Thomas Hampson, bass. Tölzer Knabenchor and Concentus Musicus Wien conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt
(CD Das Kantatewerk. Sacred cantatas vol.8. Teldec 4509 91762-2)
Photo: Nikolaus Harnoncourt during the New Years concert in Vienna, 2003