Grand Choral Architecture

 

In small packages.

Anton Bruckner's a cappella motets are beautiful creations. One senses the past, in the form of Palestrina to my ears. Yet, the Romantic-Era composer obviously stretches the music as much as he can without dishonoring the past.

Any lover of choral music, spirituality, or Bruckner should know these pieces. Looking at my review (below), it seems my only problem here is the short timing and the Terra-based music which makes up the Kronstorfer Mass. Otherwise, this is wonderful singing, per usual from the Latvians and their director Sigvards Kļava.

A review from 2022

While Anton Bruckner’s symphonies are imposing works of spiritual architecture, and his symphonic masses are interesting rides themselves, his a cappella motets for chorus lay between the feet of humanity and the vaunted heavens. This recording features the Latvian Radio Choir in 14 of Bruckner’s motets in addition to the rare 5-minute Kronstorfer Mass.

I always thought that if you enjoyed the Renaissance Era works of Palestrina, with their unaffected beauty and simplicity, it would be easy to transition to Bruckner’s motets from 300 years later. They exude the same textural clarity of Palestrina even though Bruckner’s harmonies venture further afield. Rarely are there any surprises, but instead, an awe-stricken mood of stunning musical devotionality exists, which Bruckner weaves together magically.

The big five or six motets that confound in simplicity, but challenge choirs in devastating harmonic turns are mostly here. Os Justi, Locus Iste, Ave Maria, and Christus Factus Est are the shining stars here, and one could easily add Tota Pulchra Est and Virga Jesse to that list from this recording. While Ecce Sacerdos Magnus and Inveni David would have been treasured additions, they are not included, but what is here is quality.

I am not as enamored with the Kronstorfer Mass and the strophic hymns that fill out the rest of the program. Beautiful though they be, these others seem like potboilers. Perhaps they were written for the average church choir of the time, but they seem more functional to my ears, and hardly reach the ecstasy of the others previously mentioned.

What I can’t complain about is the singing of the Latvian Radio Choir under the direction of Sigvards Kļava. They have a lovely smooth tone, but maintain the lightest of vibratos for a healthy, full choral sound without barnstorming. Klava avoids the trap of too much slowness and gentleness by taking Bruckner’s music at its word, often with opposing dynamic levels and musical attacks in stark contrast.

Furthermore, the motets marked at-the-breve move forward purposefully instead of endless floating choral beauty for beauty’s sake, and I appreciate the marvelous text inflections this Baltic choir imbues upon its musical lines. The large acoustic of Riga’s Dome Cathedral is apparent, but rarely does it ensnare the music into a tangled mess and the sound captures the group forward enough to avoid a messy, distant choral sound. The bass is very natural and never over-engineered as it can be elsewhere.

There have been a number of recordings dedicated to Bruckner’s motets, although I have never been a fan of the English tradition on record, so those with Matthew Best on Hyperion are not favorites of mine. However, the older Jochum on DG, and others such as Tenebrae on Signum, MDR on Pentatone, two Czech choirs on Orfeo and on MDG all feature adult choruses of various sizes and with varying program offerings to compare.

I am not thrilled that Sigvards Kļava and the Latvian Radio Choir offer a sub-60-minute program when much more music is available. Nor do all of Bruckner’s motets included reach the heights of the stellar handful mentioned, yet it is all exquisitely sung in wonderfully clear Signum sound. Song texts and translations are included in the physical media as well.

Works
Os Justi (4.10)
Christus Factus Est (5.28)
Ave Maria (3.13)
Libera Me (4.05)
Kronstorfer Mass (6.42)
Tantum Ergo (11.59)
Virga Jesse (3.51)
Pange Lingua (5.30)
Salvum Fac (3.23)
Tota Pulchra Es (5.20)
Vexilla Regis (4.55)


Performers
Kristīne Adamaite, organ
Latvian Radio Choir
Sigvards Kļava, conductor

Label: Ondine
Year: 2020
Total Timing: 58.48

Everyone who loves choral music should become familiar with Bruckner's heavenly motets. Those who enjoy the Renaissance should have as much ease as those who prefer Romanticism.

Even better, the Latvian Radio Choir might be our finest performers of choral music today. Certainly, they are not daunted by Bruckner's music.

Too bad every creation from Bruckner wasn't heaven touched. Certainly the Kronstorfer Mass is more purposeful than inspiring.