J.S. Bach - Morimur [CD]

Johann Sebastian Bach had a grasp of the compositional process that has seldom been seen in music history. Coupled with a deep Lutheran faith, this mastery produced the finest sacred works in the repertoire. What is fascinating about many of his compositions is the often hidden puzzles that Bach incorporated. For instance he frequently would use his last name in the compositional process, b-a-c-h (h being the German b natural). Bach also incorporated hymns from the Lutheran liturgy into the fabric of his music.

This is the fascinating premise of Morimur, a collaboration between The Hilliard Ensemble and violinist, Christoph Poppen. It's hard to understate the talent of Christoph Poppen and the Hilliard Ensemble. What is most gratifying, is that these performers do not rest on their enviable laurels, but are producing recordings such as this. They're not content to perform the same works over and over, but are involved in daring projects such as Morimur. This recording uses research which has uncovered information about the composition of the "Ciaccona" from the D minor Partita for Solo Violin.

Bach most likely composed the "Ciaccona" upon discovering his wife, Maria Barbara Bach, had died and been buried in his absence, in 1720. The German violinist and teacher, Helga Thoene, has shown that Bach incorporated chorale tunes into the "Ciaccona," and the performance of these chorale tunes within the fabric of the "Ciaccona" is not only breath taking but highly enlightening. This CD is worth owning for just the performance of the "Ciaccona," with four voices singing the chorale tunes that are at the foundation of this composition.

The "Ciaccona" opens with a broad gesture in the violin, as the voices act to support the harmonic motion with the chorale melody. The chorale melody expands from a monophonic pedal to imitative harmony as the role of the violin becomes increasingly virtuosic. The demands on the violinist are truly monumental throughout this passage, and in concert performances of this work, this is much of what the audience perceives. Yet, the placid underlying chorale is at the core of this very difficult work. Because of this collaboration between The Hilliard Ensemble, Christoph Poppen, and Helga Thoene--the "Ciaccona" will never be seen in the same way again.

Poppen's performance of the other movements of the D minor Partita reflect the insights we witnessed in the "Ciaccona." In the "Sarabande", the true character of this stately dance is brought to life, as dissonance's resolve into the effortless lilt of this dance's motion. The Italian "Corrente" is a movement that spits forward with the speed and agility of an acrobat, and Poppen brings amazing clarity to its performance. In the "Giga," Poppen brings out the metric contrast between the feel of duple and triple meters, resulting in a particularly witty performance.

This is an astoundingly enlightening recording. The performance by Christoph Poppen is robust and intelligent. This is a man who has lived with Bach's D minor Partita for a long time and his performance testifies to this. The Hilliard Ensemble is as extraordinary as we've come to expect. This CD leaves the listener moved, excited, and perhaps a bit wiser.