Search - Mozart, Mendelssohn, Schmidt-Gaden :: Canons for Choir / Veni Domine

Boychoir singing at the highest level ...

Douglas Neslund (justus@flash.net) | Los Angeles, California | 09/24/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is an excellent collection of boychoir singing (SSAA), and should belong in every serious choral lover's collection.To those who are familiar with the canons of Mozart, both sacred and profane, the surface simplicity covers extremely difficult vocal-choral problems to solve. Maestro Schmidt-Gaden is able to overcome balance between soprano sections and alto sections, for example, because of hours spent in training ALL voices to sing to the highest, as well as the lowest notes. Thus, unlike other choirs performing these canons, he is able to keep his regular choral sections intact, and not mix each section with a blend of soprano and alto voices. The blend comes from the entire 36 voice choir, a true feat of musicianship and dedication to the music.The canons recorded in this album are: Alleluia, Ave Maria, Lacrimoso son'io, Nascoso e il mio sol, Caro bell' idol mio, Difficile lectu mihi Mars, G'rechtelt's enk, Gehn wir im Prater, Lieber Freistaedler, O du eselhafter Martin, and Bona nox, bist a rechter Ox.One might criticize the scattalogical text content in the final six selections, which evoke a Mozart ala "Amadeus." But one cannot fault the singing!The Mendelssohn motets: Veni Domine, Laudate pueri and Surrexit pastor bonus, offer any fan of boychoir art a thrilling excursion into music written by the 17-year-old Felix for a choir of Italian nuns. However, it is difficult to believe that he would have passed on this performance. Incredibly well sung, rich in vowel color and word painting (a specialty of Schmidt-Gaden's).Highly recommended, and difficult to find!"