This issue is the third in a series dedicated to Bach's contemporaries, which is fast developing into a major rediscovery project.
Robert King's versatile team of soloists includes Carolyn Sampson, James Bowman and Robin Blaze, all tried and tested in this repertoire and the wonderful sounds of Schelle's music finds both them and their companions in superb form. There are nine major pieces on this CD, all of which display a certain opulence and nobleness that is typical of German baroque church music.
The opening "Lobe den Herren, meine Seele' is very ethereal in its construction and scoring that gives it a notion of triumphant praise to the Lord. "Gott sende dein Licht' is also very beautiful and opulent whilst the shorter settings such as "Christus ist des Gesetzes Ende' and "Komm Jesu komm' reveal a certain intimacy that is certainly not lacking in Schelle's work.
Hyperion's recording is as clean as a whistle and the lavish sleeve notes delve into the history of this unknown compose who certainly deserves greater exploration. Like Kuhnau and Knupfer before him, Schelle is one of the major rediscoveries from Johann Sebastian Bach's time.
Copyright © 2001, Gerald Fenech