Information
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
- Die Elenden sollen essen, BWV 75: VII. Chorale. Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan (Transcr. Johannes Lang)
- Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080
- Vor deinen Thron tret' ich, BWV 668: Chorale. Wenn wir in hoechsten Noethen (Transcr. Johannes Lang)
Collegium Musicum '23
Nadja Zwiener, violin
Anna Dmitrieva, violin
Magdalena Schenk-Bader, viola
Joseph Crouch, cello
Johannes Lang, organ
&
Hedwig Ohse, violin
Anna Reisener, cello
Date: 2025
Label: Ramée
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Johann Sebastian Bach took the opportunity to enhance the previously mediocre inventory of string instruments in Leipzig's two main churches in 1729 by purchasing four violins, two violas and two cellos from the workshop of Johann Christian Hoffmann (Leipzig 1683-1750). Three of these eight instruments, two violins and a viola, are still owned by the Thomaskirche. They could only be admired in a display case for decades, but here they can be heard in a recording for the first time. The Art of Fugue is framed by Bach’s first and last Leipzig chorale arrangements, recorded on the Hildebrandt organ in Störmthal near Leipzig, which Bach had examined and inaugurated. Hearing these emblematic works on instruments that the Cantor himself had played is an extraordinary experience that provides direct historical testimony to the sound world of Johann Sebastian Bach.
Collegium Musicum '23 is a Leipzig-based early music ensemble founded in 2023 by violinist Nadja Zwiener and St. Thomas organist Johannes Lang. Inspired by the legacy of Johann Sebastian Bach, particularly his appointment in Leipzig in 1723, the ensemble blends historical authenticity with creative collaboration. Performing on period instruments, including those linked directly to Bach’s era, they focus on both chamber and large-scale Baroque works. With a core of local musicians and international guests, the ensemble partners with choirs, artists, and institutions like the Bach Archive. They now host an annual concert series and have released the CD 1723 on Ramée.
