This disc recycles some performances by the German historical-instrument group
Virtuosi Saxoniae, originally issued between 1986 and 1995. As such, it improves not only on most of the budget compilations issued by the label involved, Berlin Classics, but on the majority of such compilations in general. The same group is involved all the way through, for one thing; there are different vocal soloists, but the interpretive environment is consistent. More important, the compilation rearranges the original material into something new and interesting. The selection of music turns on the double use of the sentence "Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis" (Glory to God on high, and peace on earth to people of good will), unfortunately mistranslated in the English booklet notes, although the German is correct. The utterance is given by Luke as that of the Host above the stable in Bethlehem after the birth of Christ; it is also more general, opening the Gloria of the Catholic Mass. The selection of Baroque works here accordingly brings together pieces of various types. There are big settings of the Gloria, either freestanding like the well-known Gloria in D major, RV 589, by
Vivaldi, or taken from missae breves or full-length masses. There are instrumental concertos and sonatas with the pastoral 6/8 rhythm associated with Christmas observances (the Concerto in C major, Op. 5/12, by Manfredini is a good off-the-beaten-track selection of this kind). And there are selections by
Bach that combine these features: a section of the Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, and a Latin setting of the Gloria, BWV 191, that makes a fine bookend to balance the
Vivaldi, with a heartrending lilting rhythm introduced in the middle of the piece. The conducting of
Ludwig Güttler has a certain stolidity, but the brass work featured in many of the choral selections is top-notch, and there are some real finds among the soloists. Sample the Gloria from the Missa dei Patris, ZWV 19, of Jan Dismas Zelenka (tracks 10 and 11), with its thorny, adventurous polyphony and its solo turns from
René Jacobs (alto) and a soprano with the quintessentially central European name of Venceslava Hruba-Freiberger. The sound in many of the selections is brittle and barely up to par, but for a mixed vocal and instrumental disc of festive music with a Christmas theme at a budget price, this will do just fine.