Heinrich
Franz Ignaz von Biber:
Missa Salisburgensis
Musica Antiqua Köln, Reinhard Goebel
Gabrieli Consort & Players, Paul McCreesh
1998. Archiv Produktion 457 611-2 AH (fullprice)
I remember buying this recording at an airport, a couple of years ago, waiting for a delayed flight. It was mostly for having something to do, I admit, but also out of a slight curiosity for this then unfamiliar piece of musichistory. Largescale baroque chorals aren't really my first choice among musical formats, nevertheless I ended up with this cd in my discman. My initial scepticism wasn't blown away untill I had played the disc quite a few times, but then that little miracle that sometimes takes place, happened - and the music opened up - little by little, movement by movement, untill it displayed itself in all of its magnificence.
The german
composer Biber (1644-1704), one of music's great eccentrics, had
in this grand mass commited a true masterpiece. That is one
assumes that it is Biber who is responsible for the Missa
Salisburgensis; the facts around its origin not being
completely established. This work was the musical
"centrepiece" in a celebration of unpresedented
magnificence: the 1100th anniversary of the city of Salzburg. 
The
event taking place in 1684 had been in progress for years with
meticulous preparation. Nothing would be wanting, and the music
naturally had to be of a proper grandiose dignity - and believe
me, it is. A stage of potential difficulty in familarizing with
this work will for many be to see through what at first may seem
as an impenetrable wall of pomposity. But once you get a glimpse
through that wall, the richness and beauty of the music is at
hand, and you'll find your selves inside a superbly crafted piece
of choral splendour - atleast I do.
This recording is a collaboration between two of "the authentcity vein's" absolute firsts: The Gabrieli Consort & Players under the leadership of Paul McCreesh and Reinhard Goebel's Musica Antiqua Köln. McCreesh's credentials as a stager of "events" are well established and admired.
Reconstructing grand
musical happenings from the time of Morales and onwards is a
trademark of McCreesh's and his Gabrielis. Musica Antiqua Köln
possesses credentials of equal stature in the instrumental
categories. Their recordings of baroque orchestral music, such as
the masterly reading of Die Kunst der Fuge (Archiv
Masters) have made their name a prime choice in
"period-performed" music.
The Missa Salisburgensis regretably haven't been in the the minds of the music industry all to often. But the last two years have given us two much praised accounts. This and Ton Koopman's on Erato. I haven't heard the latter, but if the critics are anything to go by, it's pretty good. As for this recording I find it most fulfilling, in conveying the spirit of a truly grand occation. The orchestral parts are well crafted with a wonderful rich soundtexture. The choral forces are sublime and so well supported by a majestic brass section. The smaller instrumental sonatas that are integrated into the mass work as intermezzi giving the audience a chance to catch its breath.
Much praise goes to McCreesh and Goebel with their fine ensembles, creating a Missa Salisburgenisis of great potential. The producers are equally worthy of laurels for the truly impressive sound on this disc; it really adds to the sense of grand occation. But the first prize goes to old man Biber for leaving this masterpiece for posterity to savour.
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