Description
Christophorus: Dieterich Buxtehude — Membra Jesu Nostri BuxWV 75 (Audio CD)
Brand new! Factory packaged! As pictured! Buy with confidence!
Product Details:
- Product Type: Audio CD
- Brand / Label: Christophorus
- Catalog Number: CHR 77436
- UPC: 4010072774361
- Composer: Dieterich Buxtehude (c. 1637–1707)
- Work: Membra Jesu Nostri, BuxWV 75
- Performers: La Chapelle Rhénane; La Maîtrise de Garçons de Colmar
- Direction: Benoît Haller; Arlette Steyer (boys' choir)
- Genre: Classical / Baroque sacred vocal
- Condition: New, factory sealed
Product Features
- Format: CD
- Discs: 1
- Total runtime: 60:35
- Sound: DDD
- Made in: The Netherlands
- Essay languages: German, English, French
- Recording: ℗ 2008, this edition © 2019 (licensed by Phaya Music)
Overview
Buxtehude wrote Membra Jesu Nostri in 1680 as a cycle of seven cantatas, each meditating on a different part of the crucified body of Christ — the feet, knees, hands, side, breast, heart, and face. It is one of the earliest known oratorio-style passion works in the Lutheran tradition, and it had a quiet but lasting influence on the young J.S. Bach, who famously walked some 250 miles to hear Buxtehude play.
This Christophorus recording, directed by Benoît Haller, pairs the period-instrument ensemble La Chapelle Rhénane with the boys' choir La Maîtrise de Garçons de Colmar. The combination gives the cycle an unusually transparent, devotional quality — three sopranos, alto, tenor and bass over violins, a consort of viole da gamba, violone, theorbo, harp and organ. The mood moves from tender to lacerating without ever turning theatrical.
The seven cantatas run a little over an hour and are best heard whole, in sequence. The booklet essay appears in German, English and French. A clean, well-documented release for anyone building a serious Baroque sacred collection.
Interesting Facts
- Membra Jesu Nostri (BuxWV 75) is widely regarded as the first true Lutheran oratorio-passion, predating Bach's passions by decades.
- The text draws on a medieval poem, Salve mundi salutare, once attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux, addressing the wounded limbs of the crucified Christ one by one.
- Buxtehude was organist at the Marienkirche in Lübeck, where his celebrated Abendmusik concerts drew musicians from across northern Germany — including a young Bach.
- The fourth cantata, Ad latus ("to the side"), opens with a striking sonata for viola da gamba consort, a sound rarely heard outside this repertoire.
- La Chapelle Rhénane, founded by Benoît Haller, specializes in German Baroque vocal music and has built its reputation on Schütz and Buxtehude.
Track Listing
- Ad pedes — Ecce super montes — 7:40
- Ad genua — Ad ubera portabimini — 9:50
- Ad manus — Quid sunt plagae istae — 9:06
- Ad latus — Surge amica mea — 9:13
- Ad pectus — Sicut modo geniti infants — 9:27
- Ad cor — Vulnerasti cor meum — 9:03
- Ad faciem — Illustra faciem tuam — 6:16
Publishers
Released on the Christophorus label (catalog CHR 77436), part of the note 1 music group, Heidelberg, Germany. Manufactured in the Netherlands. Original recording ℗ 2008; this edition © 2019, licensed by Phaya Music.
Sealed copy in hand? A quick review helps other early-music collectors decide.
