Johann Kuhnau: Uns Ist Ein Kind Geboren: Weihnachtskantaten

Johann Kuhnau (1670-1722), Bach's eternal 'predecessor' as Leipzig's Thomaskantor, has only been rediscovered in recent years and his true greatness has not yet been truly recognised. He was highly respected by his contemporaries, however, and not just as a musician: he had a doctorate, worked as a lawyer, wrote satirical novels - a polymath. His musical oeuvre must have been extensive, much of it is lost. It is therefore all the more pleasing that his magnificent Christmas cantata "Frohlocket, ihr Volker, und jauchzet, ihr Heiden" ['Rejoice, ye nations, and shout for joy, ye heathen'] has been preserved. It opens the programme on this CD and, with its instrumentation and duration of over 25 minutes, surpasses many a great cantata by his famous successor. The quality of his work is also evident in his second cantata "Uns ist ein Kind geboren" ['A child has been born to us']: it was long regarded as a work by Johann Sebastian Bach! Peter Gortner with the chamber choir of the Christuskirche Karlsruhe and the orchestra L'arpa festante complements these two Kuhnau cantatas with well-known movements by Michael Praetorius and Johannes Eccard to create a festive Christmas CD.

1: I. Lamento
2: II. Andante
3: III. Largo Ma Non Tanto
4: IV. Un Poco Allegro
5: Der Rauch Von Eurer Opferglut
6: Dass Menschen Auf Der Erden
7: Meine Frühen Morgenstunden
8: Aurora, Die Vor Meinem Wagen Schreitet
9: Mein Erhöhtes Rosenlicht
10: Wahr Ist`s, Das Allgemeine Hoffen
11: Mein Glanz Bestrahlet Zwar Die Welt
12: Wenn Andere Den Tag Anstatt Der Sorge
13: Schlagt Ihr Stunden Teilt Die Zeiten
14: Wenn Dann Dein Teures Haupt
15: Schlaf Du Herrscher Dieses Landes
16: Mein Morgenrot Soll Dir, Durchlauchtigster
17: Der Himmel Kann Dich Nicht Alleine Lassen
18: So Lenke Dann Hierauf Noch Einen Gnadenblick
19: Es Lebe Fürst Johann August
20: Es Ist Ein Ros' Entsprungen

Composer: Johann Kuhnau, Michael Praetorius

Conductor: Peter Gortner

Number of Discs: 1

Orchestra: L'Arpa Festante

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