The saying "Not Bach, but Sea should he be called" (a play on the German word for stream) is often applied to Johann Sebastian Bach, but it could equally describe the entire Bach family's vast musical output.
Interpretation
The performers chose a meditative tempo for these motets, aligning with historical performance practice for sacred music, which emphasized a measured, devotional approach.
Recording & Production
The recording features a basso continuo accompaniment with one or two organs, two lutes, harpsichord, and violone, reflecting historical performance standards.
Compositional Technique
The motets of the Bach family incorporate counterpoint and imitation from the Renaissance, polychoral music from Italy, and Protestant chorale melodies.
Historical Context
The devotional character of sacred music, with its measured tempos, was influenced by the era of confessionalization, the Counter-Reformation, and the Thirty Years' War.
Performer Biography
The Tölzer Knabenchor, one of the world's most successful boys' choirs, performs over 150 concerts and opera appearances annually and has received numerous awards, including a Grammy nomination.
