Dietrich Buxtehude - Membra Jesu nostri Bux WV 75

Dietrich BUXTEHUDE (1637/39-1707) 

Membra Jesu nostri BuxWV 75

Fried- und Freudenreiche Hinfahrth BuxWV 76

The Netherlands Bach Society

Jos van Veldhoven

Recording: Waalse Kerk, Amsterdam, Holland, November 2005.

Amazingly, both Channel Classics and Harmonia Mundi chose to record and release Buxtehude’s rarely-heard cantata cycle Membra Jesu nostri at virtually the same time. Your choice should not be determined by performance standards or engineering expertise, for both recordings are outstanding in those respects; instead, you should consider more subtle differences or such things as particularities of individual voices or of instrumental configuration. (For a description of the Harmonia Mundi/Cantus Cölln disc and of the work itself, see Reviews archive.) For instance, this performance by The Netherlands Bach Society features felicitous little touches of instrumental ornamentation not present on the HM disc, especially from theorbo player Mike Fentross. In fact, the inclusion of theorbo is an important difference between the two recordings–it really adds welcome color, and its little “fills” keep things moving with a purposeful flow. Also, conductor Jos van Veldhoven’s performance offers slightly more dramatic emphasis in phrasing and dynamics, which generates a bit more excitement in a work that can seem predictable and repetitive from section to section. This more theatrical approach is especially evident–and effective–in the opening to the third cantata, Ad manus, with its striking dissonances and oft-shifting dynamics and phrase-lengths.

The vocal ensemble is comparable in balance to the Cantus Cölln singers, but I always find soprano Johannette Zomer’s vocal quality to be overly piercing, and it’s a factor here (although less than in some previous outings), whether she sings solo or with other voices. However, her rendition of the lovely Klagelied (Lamentation), part of the filler material that closes the disc, is (but for some upper register notes) one of her finer performances in the past few years. You should also know that you really need the information from both sets of liner notes to piece together a fully adequate picture of the Membra Jesu nostri’s origin and significance. I’m still surprised that both recordings appeared at once, but I’m not sorry. Both are excellent, and you can’t go wrong whichever you choose. Channel Classics’ sound is typically demonstration quality.

Classics Today

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This cycle, which is clearly not intended for liturgical use and dedicated to his friend Gustav Dben, must indubitably be seen as an expression of Buxtehude's own religious experience and personal devotion. In fact, we know unusually little about this great musician; no personal letters or anecdotes have survived. His music speaks to us all the more powerfully - especially the Membra Jesu Nostri, with its highly personal combination of introverted expressivity, deliberately simple declamation (here and there it can even be called naive), and great harmonic richness. No matter how alien the content of the medieval Latin text may be to our 21st-century sensibilities, it nevertheless inspired Buxtehude to produce a visionary setting, in a vivid cycle of compositions which still go straight to our hearts. 

Pieter Dirksen (from the booklet)

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Buxtehude's Membra Jesu Nostri is an extremely beautiful work and this recording does it full justice. Veldhoven uses one voice per part which enhances the work's personal significance. His tempi are slightly slower than Jacobs Harmonia Mundi recording but this, if anything, enhances the overall devotional qualities of the music. As Gramophone pointed out in their review, Veldhoven's tempi are entirely appropriate allowing each phrase to be savoured. Veldhoven's reading also has more character than the newer Harmonia Mundi version with Junghänel. Veldhoven has the benefit of a far superior recording balance with excellent spatial definition between the different voices. The instrumental playing is also distinguished and characterful. The instruments too are beautifully caught and balanced with the voices. I would rate this version the finest I have heard, both in terms of singing and instrumental playing as well as the recording quality. You need not hesitate.

Amazon review