Verbum caro factum est
A Christmas Greeting
Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki
The performances are typically classy, and punctuated by a selection of Daquin’s ‘Noels’ for solo organ, played with peppery registrations by Suzuki.
Verbum caro factum est
A Christmas Greeting
Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki
Purchase product
The performances are typically classy, and punctuated by a selection of Daquin’s ‘Noels’ for solo organ, played with peppery registrations by Suzuki.
About
Bach Collegium Japan and Masaaki Suzuki have sung of the wonders of Christmas a number of times, in Bach’s cantatas and Christmas Oratorio as well as in Handel’s Messiah. Here, instead, we hear the choir a cappella in a selection of classic Christmas carols. Masato Suzuki, son of the ensemble’s founder and director, has selected some of the best-loved songs of Christmas, such as Adeste fideles and Silent Night, as well as less familiar hymns, arranging them especially for these singers. A consummate organist, he also performs a number of Louis-Claude Daquin’s noëls variés – keyboard variations on Christmas songs which became a highly popular genre in 18th-century France.
Contents and tracklist
trad.:
Verbum caro factum est
Work length1:01
Work length3:45
No. 1, Noël sur les jeux d'anches sans tremblant
Track length3:45
Work length3:20
- Bach Collegium Japan Chorus
- Masaaki Suzuki
Work length4:17
No. 2, Noël en dialogue, duo, trio, sur le cornet de récit, la tierce du positif et la pédalle de flûte
Track length4:17
Work length2:32
- Bach Collegium Japan Chorus
- Masaaki Suzuki
Work length6:13
No. 3, Noël en musette, en dialogue, et en duo
Track length6:13
Work length3:19
- Aki Matsui (soprano)
- Bach Collegium Japan Chorus
- Masaaki Suzuki
trad.:
In Dulci Jubilo
Work length1:36
- Bach Collegium Japan Chorus
- Masaaki Suzuki
trad.:
The First Nowell
Work length4:01
- Bach Collegium Japan Chorus
- Masaaki Suzuki
trad.:
Festgesang, WoO 9, MWV D4
Work length4:42
- Aki Matsui (soprano)
- Bach Collegium Japan Chorus
- Masaaki Suzuki
No. 2, Lied (Adap. W.H. Cummings as Hark! The Herald Angels Sing) - Verbum caro factum est [Arr. M. Suzuki for Voice & Choir]
Track length4:42
Work length2:28
- Masato Suzuki (organ)
- Bach Collegium Japan Chorus
- Masaaki Suzuki
Kirkpatrick:
Away In a Manger - It Came Upon The Midnight Clear - Ding, Dong! Merrily On High
Work length3:58
- Masato Suzuki (organ)
- Bach Collegium Japan Chorus
- Masaaki Suzuki
Away in a Manger - It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Ding, Dong! Merrily on High (Arr. M. Suzuki for Choir)
Track length3:58
Work length8:53
- Recorded: February and March 2018
- Recording Venue: Kobe Shoin Women's University Chapel
No. 6, Noël sur les jeux d’anches, sans tremblant, et en duo
Track length4:54
No. 7, Noël en trio et en dialogue, le cornet de récit de la main droite, la tierce du positif de la main gauche
Track length3:59
Scheidt:
O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild
Work length2:53
- Bach Collegium Japan Chorus
- Masaaki Suzuki
Nouveau livre de noëls, Op. 2
Track length2:53
Work length5:14
No. 10, Noël grand jeu et duo
Track length5:14
trad.:
O come, o come, Emmanuel
Work length4:10
- Bach Collegium Japan Chorus
- Masaaki Suzuki
Work length4:01
No. 12, Noël grand Jeu et duo "Suisse"
Track length4:01
trad.:
Trent Codices: Verbum caro factum est (arr. for 3 voices)
Work length1:46
- Aki Matsui (soprano), Hiroya Aoki (countertenor), Toru Kaku (bass)
Verbum caro factum est (Arr. M. Suzuki for 3 Voices)
Track length1:46
Awards and reviews
Christmas Issue 2018
The performances are typically classy, and punctuated by a selection of Daquin’s ‘Noels’ for solo organ, played with peppery registrations by Suzuki.
December 2018
The highlight is Masaaki Suzuki’s beautiful performance, at the organ of numbers from Louis-Claude Daquin’s Livre des Noëls pour l’orgue et le clavecin. Scattered throughout a disorderly sequence, they quickly become islands of nourishment.
December 2018
Diction and pronunciation are phenomenally good.
Classical CD Review February 2019
Engineers have captured an appropriately rich, resonant sound
