Composer: Wolfgang Carl Briegel
Performer: Ensemble Polyharmonique, Klaus Eichhorn
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: CPO
Catalogue: 555449-2
Release: 2022
Size: 440 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
12 Madrigalische Trostgesänge
01. No. 1, Wer Gott vertraut
02. No. 2, Ach, Herr, lehre doch mich
03. No. 3, Valet will ich dir geben
04. No. 4, Ach, wie gar nichts
Fugen durch die 8 Kirchentöne
05. No. 1, Fuga primi toniKlaus
06. No. 2, Fuga secundi toniKlaus
12 Madrigalische Trostgesänge
07. No. 5, Du aber, Daniel
Fugen durch die 8 Kirchentöne
08. No. 3, Fuga tertii toniKlaus
09. No. 4, Fuga quarti toniKlaus
12 Madrigalische Trostgesänge
10. No. 6, Ich habe dich ein klein Augenblick verlassen
Fugen durch die 8 Kirchentöne
11. No. 5, Fuga quinti toniKlaus
12 Madrigalische Trostgesänge
12. No. 7, Si bona suscepimus
Fugen durch die 8 Kirchentöne
13. No. 6, Fuga sexti toniKlaus
12 Madrigalische Trostgesänge
14. No. 8, Der Gerechte, ob er gleich zu zeitlich
Fugen durch die 8 Kirchentöne
15. No. 7, Fuga septimi toniKlaus
16. No. 8, Fuga octavi toniKlaus
12 Madrigalische Trostgesänge
17. No. 9, Wir sind getrost allezeit
18. No. 10, Ach, lieben Christen, seyd getrost
19. No. 11, Es ist ein elend jämmerlich Ding
20. No. 12, Wahrlich ich sage euch
“End, good; everything, good”
Wolfgang Carl Briegel placed these very consoling words at the center of the dedication that he formulated in 1671 for his Zwölff madrigalische Trost-Gesänge for five or six voices together with basso continuo. After Briegel had served without interruption over two decades at Gotha’s ducal court, he resigned from his post as court music director and solemnly bade farewell to his employer, the local lord Ernst I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha, with the publication of these twelve songs of lament.
Born in Königsberg, Upper Franconia, Briegel received his initial instruction in music from Johann Andreas Herbst. Through this teacher and through Johann Erasmus Kindermann, he made indirect contact with the latest Italian styles of composition and performance. His Trost-Gesänge in very large part involve the setting of Biblical verses in the form of so-called “Spruch-Motetten”, in which each phrase of the sacred text is given its own musical delineation. On the whole, the collection exhibits numerous original settings of Biblical and poetic material.
Some organ fugues by Briegel have been included in the work series – one in each of the eight church modes. They are very short works, but the themes are richly varied and lend expression to the special characteristics and qualities of the various modes.
The interpretation by the Polyharmonique Ensemble makes this rediscovery an absolute listening delight!