Bach, J.S.: Constantin Emanuel (boy soprano) sings from Schemellis Gesangbuch (Ton Koopman, organ)

TON KOOPMAN: Georg Christian Schemelli (ca. 1676-1762) is known to us primarily because of the book of songs he published, the Musicalisches Gesang-Buch (Leipzig, 1736). This book contains 954 songs, 69 of which have melodies and a figured bass. It was long assumed that Johann SeBastian Bach, who is mentioned in the preface to the volume, played a major part in the completion of these songs, or at least in writing the figured bass lines. The 69 songs are therefore included in the corpus of the Bach Werke Verzeichnis (BWV catalogue). Although Schemelli’s volume was not particularly successful when it first appeared, being sold off at remainder prices, the position has changed quite radically now. These occasionally simple, directly appealing melodies and texts now form part of the day-to-day repertoire of many singers. Editions of what has become a well-loved volume are available in all sorts of transpositions.

This CD displays the talents of a boy treble who turned 15 a few months ago and who is still singing as a treble – quite unusual these days but absolutely normal in Bach’s time, when boys’ voices would often ‘break’ at around the age of 16. I think it is important for us to document a voice of this sort. Since the days of SeBastian Hennig, whose voice can be followed from the age of 11 through to 15 on many of Gustav Leonhardt’s recordings of Bach cantatas, Constantin is one of the very few boy trebles whose voice transcends the ‘sweet’ and who has something to say in musical terms.

Tracklisting

1 Vater unser im Himmelreich (from Clavier Übung III), BWV 683
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

2 Ich steh an deiner Krippe hier, BWV 469
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

3 Brunnquell aller Güter, BWV 445
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

4 Andante from Pastorale in F, BWV 590
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

5 Dir, dir, Jehova, will ich singen, BWV 452
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

6 Nur mein Jesus ist mein Leben, BWV 490
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

7 Jesu, meines Glaubens Zier, BWV 472
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

8 Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten, BWV 691
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

9 Jesu, deine Liebeswunden, BWV 471
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

10 Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist, BWV 454
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

11 Fuga in C, BuxWV 174
Composer: Dieterich Buxtehude

12 Ich freue mich in dir, BWV 465
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

13 Lasset uns mit Jesu ziehen, BWV 481
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

14 Sonata in G, K 328
Composer: Domenico Scarlatti

15 Gib dich zufrieden und sei stille, BWV 460
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

16 Sei gegrüsset, Jesu, gütig, BWV 499
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

17 Partita Auf meinen lieben Gott in e minor, BuxWV 179 ((Allemande & double, Sarabande, Courante, Gigue)
Composer: Dieterich Buxtehude

18 Nicht so traurig, nicht so sehr, BWV 489
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

19 Beglückter Stand getreuer Seelen, BWV 442
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

20 Jesu meines Herzens Freud, BWV 473
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

21 Menuet with variations (after flute sonata op. 2 nr. 10, from the ‘Klavierboek van Quirijn en Jacoba Elizabeth van Bambeek van Strijen)
Composer: Pietro Antonio Locatelli

22 Bist du bei mir, BWV 508
Composer: Gottfried Heinrich Stölzle