In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument

Dresden Boys' Choir

Group.

In the year 1234 the Austrian wife of Henry the Illustrious brought with her to Dresden a piece of the true cross as a gift, which was for the period immediately following kept in the Church of St. Nicholas. As an addition to this church, the oldest within the city walls, the "capella sanctae crucis" (chapel of the holy cross) was built, the first record of which dates from 1319, when it was mentioned as a place of pilgrimage. This chapel lent its name later in 1388 to the entire church "zum heiligen Kreuz." For some considerable time, ministers and choirboys performed the liturgy, and for the boys' instruction in Latin and music a boarding school was founded, first mentioned in 1300.

In the 17th century the choir's cantors made good use of their close contacts to musicians of the Saxon court. Later, Crucians were used in performances in the court opera house. Beyond that, until the end of the 19th century the Kreuzchor took part in services in both the Sophienkirche (Church of St. Sophia) and the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady). The most dreadful interruption for both city and choir were the air raids on 13th and 14th February 1945, to which both the Kreuzkirche and its academy, the Kreuzschule, fell victim. 11 Crucians lost their lives in the attacks. The first postwar vespers took place in the burnt out Kreuzkirche on 4th August 1945. Still, the choir couldn't take possession of its home again until some ten years later.

Only a very few choirs have multi-faceted repertoires even approaching that of the Kreuzchor. Highest priority is, of course, the preservation of both sacred and secular a-capella music. Names such as that of Jacobus Gallus, Michael Praetorius, Giovanni Gabrieli, Johann Hermann Schein and Hans Leo Hassler represent the old masters whose works the Kreuzchor performs regularly. The music of Heinrich Schuetz, once Director of Music in Dresden at the Court of the Prince Elector of Saxony, has held a special place in the program for decades. In similar fashion the motettes of Johann Sebastian Bach are prominent, and part of many concerts as well are the motettes of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Johannes Brahms, Anton Bruckner and Max Reger.

Since time immemorial one of the highest callings of the Kreuzchor's cantors has been, during their time in service, to enrich the repertoire of the choir with their own compositions. Thus, by extension the music of the 20th century has come to represent a further point of emphasis. With vocal works from Guenter Raphael, Hugo Distler, Francis Poulenc, Benjamin Britten, and Krzysztof Penderecki in numerous premier performances, the Dresdner Kreuzchor repeatedly wins the attention and praise of music critics.

Today approximately 150 Crucians between the ages of 9 and 19 belong to the Dresdner Kreuzchor. The choir performs primarily as a mixed mens' and boys' choir, the composition and number being determined by the works to be performed. The number traveling to guest appearances is about 80

Discography

Displaying 1-6 of 6 items.

Dresden Boys' Choir : Sacred Music

Review: The church's four most recent directors of music are united in this collection, in which great sacred choral music illustrates the development of the boys' choir from the beginning of the stereo era to the present day.

Songlist: Kyrie, Jauchzet dem Herrn, alle Welt SWV 36 aus Psalmen Davids: 100. Psalm, Ein Kind ist uns geboren SWV 302 aus Kleine geistliche Konzerte, Kryri, Gloria, Cum Sancto Spiritu, Jauchzet, frohlocket, Locus iste, WAB 23 (1869), Ave Maria, WAB 6 (1861), Wie liegt die Stadt so wust (1945), Warum ist das Licht gegeben, Motette op. 74 Nr.1

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Dresden Boys' Choir : Unto Us A Child Is Born

Review: Dresden's famous Kreuzchor, one of the most traditional boys' choirs in the world, embarks on a new project! This recording marks the launch of a spectacular CD series oriented towards the great Ecclesiastical festivals and high days, capturing the mood and religious background of the church calendar in musical form. The selected works are all taken from the choir's popular repertoire, with special emphasis on composers of Saxony.

Songlist: Machet die Tore weit, Es begab sich aber zu der Zeit, Freut euch un jubiliert, Uns ist ein Kind geboren, Das Wort ward Fleisch, Verbum caro factum est, Wie schon singt uns der Engel Schar, Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, Virga Jesse floruit, Joseph, lieber Joseph mein, Sei wilkommen, Jesulein, Jerusalem gaude gaudio magno, Dies sanctificatus illuxit nobis, Singet und klinget, ihr Kinderlein, Das neugeborne Kindlein, Ach, mein herzliebes Jesulein

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Dresden Boys' Choir : Schutz, Psalms of David

Review: Psalm recitals played a large role in Schutz's composing life, and the reason the Psalms of David play such a significant part in the repertoire of the boys' choir of the Dresden Kreuzkirche is the spiritual and stylistic wealth of works, which can be plumbed for so many solemn or joyful occasions. To imagine the Dresden Kreuzchor without the music of Heinrich Schutz is all but impossible in this day and age. Though Schutz was himself never a choirboy there, his oeuvre represents the most significant and long-lasting contribution to the repertoire of this boys' choir, which looks back on a musical tradition of more than 700 years.

Songlist: Ich freu mich des, das mir geredt ist, An den Wassern zu Babel saban wir und weineten, Wohl dem, der den Herren furchtet, Alleluja, lobet den Herren in seinem Heiligtum, Jauchzet dem Herren, alle Welt, singt, ruhmet, lobet, Der Herr sprach zu meinem Herren, Herr unser Herrscher, wie herrlich ist dein Name, Danket dem Herren, denn er ist freundlich, Zion Spricht, der Herr hat mich verlassen, Love den Herren, meine Seele, Danket dem Herren, den er ist freundlich

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Dresden Boys' Choir : Romantic Choral Music

Review: With a tradition going back to the 13th century this highly regarded boyschoir, with its full compliment of 120 voices is ideally suited to large scale compositions. The accoustics of the Kreuzirche contribute to a romantic sound even when the emphasis is on transparency, subtly shading of expression and clarity of articulation. Apart from sacred composistions by Johannes Bach, Asnton Buckner and Max Reger, all masterpieces of romantic choral music, this program also includes some lesser-known composers. Among them are Heinrich Kaminski, director of the Berlin Choir, whose works were banned by the Nazis.

Songlist: Unser lieben Frauen Traum (Und unser lieben Frauen), Locus iste in C major, Ave Maria for Chorus, Wie liegt die Stadt so wust, Psalm 130, Gib dich zufrieden und sei stille, Erquicke mich mit deinem Licht, Motets (2), Op. 74: no 1, Warum ist das Licht gegeben, Denn er hat seinen Engeln befohlen uber dir, O Vos Omnes, Herr Christ, der einig Gottes sohn, Erquicke mich mit deinem Licht, Schonster Herr Jesu / Darum sage ich euch, Nachtlied (Die Nacht ist kommen)

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Dresden Boys' Choir : Sings Folksongs

Review: The songs on this recording rangs from simple numbers like " Gluck auf!" (the miners call of good luck) and " Der Mond ist aufgegangen" (the moon has risen) to variant forms with astringent harmonies, like Max Reger's " Bald gras ich am Neckar". The artful polyphony of " Es geht ein dunkle Wolk" in the setting by Hugo Distler and in Ludwig Senff's "Entlaubet ist der Walde" also shows how fruitfully composers of various periods have engaged themselves with folk songs. Beautifully sung, well recorded, all a cappella.

Songlist: Hoch auf dem gelben Wagen, Die wilden Schwane, Feinsliebchen, Tritt zu! (Wenn alle Brunnlein flieben), Ach Elslein, liebes Elselein, Es waren zwei Konigskinder, Ich hort ein Sichelein rauschen, Bruderlein fein, Es fuhrt uber den Main, Gluck auf, Gluck auf!, Aus grauer Stadte Mauern, Aus grauer Stadte Mauern, An der Saale hellem Strande, Das Ringlein (Bald gras ich am Neckar), Lieb Heimatland, ade, Es geht ein dunkle Wolk, Nr. 3: Es fiel ein Reif in der Fruhlingsnacht, Im Mai op. 47 Nr. 1, Fruhlingsgrub, Nr. 2: Die Primel, Im schonsten Wiesengrunde, Entlaubet ist der Walde, Sandmannchen (Die Blumelein, sie schlafen), Verstohlen geht der Mond auf, Der Mond ist aufgegangen

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Dresden Boys' Choir : Singt Die Schonsten Weihnachtslieder (Singing the Christmas Carols)

Review: The top-notch children's choir sings traditional Christmas carols including works by Brahms, Max Reger, Anton Bruckner, Handel and Mendelssohn.

Songlist: O Heiland Reif Die Himmel Auf, Nun Komm Der Heiden Heiland, Es Kommt Ein Schiff Geladen, Tauben Weif, Ave Maria, Ubers Gebrig Maria Geht, Maria Durch Ein Dornwald Ging, Tochter Zion Freu Dich, Warum toben Die Heiden, Maria Auf Dem Berge, Joseph Lieber Joseph, Schlaf Mein Kindelein, Laft Uns Lauschen, Ihr Kinderlein Kommet, Angelus Ad Pastores Ait, In Dulci Jubilo, Es Ist Ein Ros Entprungen, Leise Riesel Der Schnee, Lieb Nachtigall Wach Auf, Frohlich Soll Mein Herze Springen, Stille Nacht Heilige Nacht

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