Butt: Bach – Mass in B minor (24/88 FLAC)

Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer: Susan Hamilton, Cecilia Osmond, Margot Oitzinger, Thomas Hobbs, Matthew Brook
Orchestra: Dunedin Consort, Dunedin Players
Conductor: John Butt
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Linn Records
Size: 1.88 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

CD 01
Missa (Kyrje & Gloria)
01. Kyrie eleison
02. Christe eleison
03. Kyrie eleison
04. Gloria in excelsis Deo
05. Et in terra pax
06. Laudamus te
07. Gratias
08. Dominedeus
09. Qui tollis
10. Qui sedes
11. Quoniam tu solus Sanctus
12. Cum Sancto Spiritu

CD 02
Symbolum Nicenum (Nicene Creed)
01. Credo in unum Deum
02. Patrem omnipotentem
03. Et in unum Dominum
04. Et incarnatus est
05. Crucifixus
06. Et resurrexit
07. Et in Spiritum sanctum
08. Confiteor
09. Et expecto

Sanctus, Osanna, Benedictus, Agnus Dei
10. Sanctus
11. Osanna
12. Benedictus
13. Osanna-da capo
14. Agnus Dei
15. Dona nobis pacem

5.0 out of 5 stars This is special

The Dunedin Consort & Players are a small ensemble that allows the listener to hear all the interior parts. This is in marked contrast to the muddy performance of much larger, more traditional, choirs.

The most spiritual, and spirited, performance I have ever heard. I have repeatedly listened to it, hear more every time.

Joins Dunedin Consort’s Messiah: Both great examples of one voice per part, and historically informed recording.

Based on this Mass in B Minor and their Messiah, I’m totally sold on the Dunedin Consort. I’ve never heard the OVPP (one voice per part) approach work so well, and in both cases the recordings (on Linn) are superb. These are both exemplary, and you could do a great deal worse than to have these as your only Messiah and Mass in B Minor. I have Dunedin’s St. Matthew Passion coming in, with high expectations.

Update: Difficult not to make comparisons between this version of the Mass in B Minor and that of Philippe Herreweghe, which I only recently received. Both use small forces, both are superb in performance and recording quality.