Bach: Motets BWV 225-229 (Schneidt)

Johann Sebastian Bach: Motets BWV 225-229 

Hanns-Martin Schneidt

Regensburger Domspatzen

Capella Academica Wien

1973

 Review by Carlos Páramo:

Someone should do historical justice to Hanns-Martin Schneidt, whose recordings made real landmarks in Bach performance during the early 70's, but was shaded by the likes of (the not-always more succesful) Harnoncourt and Leonhardt. His rendering of the Motets, while not as accute or generally in tune as most of later-day performances, has some very moving moments and it is always interesting, enlightening, and even refreshing to hear them every once in a while sung with such conviction and profoundity by a big children's choir - such as Bach might hace conducted in St. Thomas.

But are there in the market other Bach recordings by Schneidt? ...He once recorded a complete performance os St. John's Passion, with alternative arias and choruses included. Since his splendid Monteverdi Vespers were re-issued a decade ago (a recording that even today strikes high in the mark), why not give the St. John's a chance?

...The instrumental accompaniment is the late Capella Academica Wien led by Edward Melkus - another unsung hero with whom History was not more generous.