Molter: Oratorio "Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag" Camerata Bachiensis

• Johann Melchior Molter (1696-1765): Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3:
• 1 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: I. Tutti "Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag" 04:08
• 2 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: II. Recitativo accompagnato "Des Lichtes Quell entziehet seinen Schein" 00:55
• 3 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: III. Arioso (Moses) "Verflucht sei, wer nicht alle Worte des Gesetzes erfüllet" 00:23
• 4 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: IV. Recitativo accompagnato (Seele) "Erschrecklich Donnerwort!" 01:05
• 5 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: V. Aria, furioso "Schlagt ihr Wetter nur zusammen" 04:09
• 6 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: Vi. Recitativo "Komm sichre Sterblichkeit!" 00:39
• 7 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: VII. Choral "Durch Adams Fall" 01:01
• 8 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: VIII. Recitativo à 4 "Komm Adam! Komm und sieh" 01:11
• 9 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: IX. Aria "Mein Herz schwimmt auf der toten See" 04:35
• 10 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: X. Recitativo (Jesaias) "Trostloses Herz ermuntre dich!" 01:23
• 11 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: XI. Arioso (Messias) "Siehe, siehe ich komme" 00:59
• 12 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: XII. Aria "Muss ich zwas hier" 02:53
• 13 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: XIII. Arioso (Johannes Baptista) "Siehe! Siehe!" 01:10
• 14 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: XIV. Recitativo (Johannes Baptista) "Schau! Dies Versöhnungsblut" 00:36
• 15 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: XV. Aria (Johannes Baptista) "Wirf nur deine glaubens Augen" 04:23
• 16 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: XVI. Recitativo (Johannes Baptista) "Geh hin nach Golgatha" 00:36
• 17 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: XVII. Choral "Kommt herzu, ihr Menschen Kinder" 00:58
• 18 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: XVIII. Choral (Pars II) "So gehst du nun mein Jesu hin" 02:11
• 19 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: XIX. Recitativo accompagnato (Messias) "Erzürnter Gott" 01:54
• 20 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: XX. Aria (Messias) "Vater, Vater, laß dich überwinden" 04:46
• 21 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: XXI. Recitativo (Der versöhnte Vater, Messias) "Licht der Welt" 02:29
• 22 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: XXII. Aria "Tod und Teufel sind entkräftet" 02:45
• 23 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: XXIII. Recitativo (Johannes) "So laßt euch dann in wahrer Buße finden" 01:25
• 24 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: XXIV. Aria (Seele) "Liebster Jesu" 05:12
• 25 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: XXV. Recitativo "Indeß soll Herz und Mund" 01:08
• 26 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: XXVI. Aria "Lob, Preis, Ehre" 03:01
• 27 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: XXVII. Chorus "Christus ist des Gesetzes Ende" 00:24
• 28 Molter: Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag, MWV 1.3: XXVIII. Choral "Herr, ich glaube, hilf mir Schwachen" 01:05
• Total Runtime 57:24

Info for Molter: Oratorio "Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag"

A first recording for a major Passsiontide oratorio from the German Baroque.

Younger than Johann Sebastian Bach by a decade, Johann Melchior Molter (1696-1765) was a significant composer of the High German Baroque era whose roots lie in the Thuringian town of Tiefenort. Born and raised there, he soon made a career for himself: via Eisenach (Bach’s birthplace) and Meiningen, he finally became court music director in Karlsruhe.

The sacred oratorio entitled Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag (Most sorrowful day) is Molter’s only passion oratorio, receiving here its first recording. Indeed, in 2022, the Ensemble Camerata Bachiensis effectively gave the work’s modern premiere. The Regensburg musicologist Wolfgang Horn came across the score while sifting through Molter’s compositions – about 350 of which have survived to this day – and edited performing parts from it.

Unlike in Passion settings of the time, there is no Evangelist to link the 28 brief movements of Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag. Recitatives and ariosos follow the pattern of earlier sacred dramas from Italy and Germany with roles given to Moses, the prophet Isiaiah and John the Baptist, prefiguring and anticipating the arrival of the Messiah.

Other arias are assigned to an embodiment of ‘The Soul’ including the oratorio’s touching expressive climax, ‘Liebster Jesu’. Choral parts are confined to punctuating chorales, which would have been sung by the congregation in Eisenach on a Good Friday between 1734 and 1741, when Molter was Capellmeister in the town.

In this recording, made in Leipzig around the time of the modern premiere, the chorales are taken one to a part by an experienced German quartet of early-music singers. Partnering them are the 16 unconducted members of the Camerata Bachiensis who produced a previous album of concertos and cantatas by Molter for Brilliant Classics in 2016, performing ‘with elegance and polish’ (Fanfare).

Camerata Bachiensis

Camerata Bachiensis
Established in 2012, Camerata Bachiensis is an Early Music ensemble based in Leipzig, Germany. Performing on period instruments, the group strives to offer historically-informed performances that preserve a dynamic, personal and spontaneous approach to Early Music-making.

Camerata Bachiensis' repertoire consists primarily of 18th century sacred and chamber music, written by Central German composers who were either connected with J. S. Bach or influenced by local music traditions. Discovering and performing the forgotten or unknown music of both famous and nameless composers is an important goal for the ensemble; as a result, conducting research in libraries and archives - especially in the regions of Central Germany and Berlin - is an indispensable part of their work together. Thank to their flexible instrumentation, Camerata Bachiensis offers repertoire ranging from trio sonatas to orchestral works and cantatas, emphasizing variety and colour in their musical programmes.

The ensemble has given concerts at important Early Music festivals, including Bachfest Leipzig, Göttingen International Handel Festival and Telemann-Festtage Magdeburg. In addition to its main activity in Germany, the group has performed in France, the Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovenia.

Camerata Bachiensis has obtained important recognition from numerous Early Music competitions. Since winning in 2013 the 7th International Telemann Competition (Magdeburg, Germany) and the 1st International 'Premio Selifa' (S. Ginesio, Italy), the ensemble has been awarded further accolades at the 6th International Graun Brothers Competition 2013 (Bad Liebenwerda, Germany), the International Van Wassenaer Concours 2014 (Utrecht, the Netherlands) and the Göttinger Reihe Historischer Musik 2014/2015 (Göttingen, Germany). In 2015, the group was selected for the eeemerging European Ensembles programme.

For the 2016/2017 season, the Bach-Museum Leipzig designated Camerata Bachiensis as its Ensemble-in-Residence. The group's first CD, featuring world premiere recordings of music by Johann Melchior Molter, will be released in 2016 by the Dutch label Brilliant Classics.

Booklet for Molter: Oratorio "Höchst schmerzensvoller Tag"