Hummel Mass Series, Volume 1

 An auspicious beginning.

As the successor to FJ Haydn in Eisenstadt, one might expect some comparisons between the master and his apprentice Hummel.

Yet here are two large Mass settings for chorus only. Not typical, at least from Haydn who loved soloists, although the musical language is bound to rely on Classical Era trends.

Once the Kyrie and Gloria have passed, that is when Hummel's individualism really kicks in; and it will run similarly in all his efforts within the genre.

Even more impressive is the Alma Virgo, where the composer has laid some impressive feats for a soprano to attempt to navigate.

I will show my hand early and say each volume in this series is excellent. Hummel impresses with every work, and where one would expect a sag here or there, his musical prowess is taut.

A Review from 2024

For Volume 1 of Chandos’ Johann Nepomuk Hummel Mass series, Hickox chooses the most well-known ones, which lie in the Masses in D and B-flat Major, although neither Mass has been recorded much at all.

Hummel’s Masses are of a Teutonic tradition, although I hear a certain Italianate operatic songfulness, perhaps gleaned from his teachers Clementi and Salieri. As the successor of FJ Haydn, I certainly recognize both composers enjoying imitative and contrapuntal highpoints, as well as special use of winds.

Compared to the older composer’s more widely recognized Masses, Hummel’s doesn't use vocal soloists here, making for wall-to-wall choral singing. He certainly writes for chorus sensitively, much along the lines of Schubert, if not particularly adventurously. However, Hummel does have some distinctive orchestral choices that foretaste his straddling of the Classical and Romantic Eras.

Most telling are Hummel’s very characterful Sanctus and Credo movements, ones that really rise above mere purposeful liturgical settings or following service music traditions. He is also rather joyously triumphant in his Dona Nobis Pacem conclusions.

As a bonus, the Offertory sequence Almo Virgo is included to round out the recording at 76 minutes. Susan Gritton handles the high-flying soprano gymnastics with relative ease and a beautiful tone.

Collegium Musicum 90 is a period orchestra and chorus, the same Sir Richard Hickox used for his Haydn Mass series. Hickox is smart enough not to forge through Hummel’s music needlessly or unthoughtfully, but instead imbues beautiful music making, particularly through fine choral singing.

While the individual Masses can be found elsewhere on Hungaroton or on Koch, this Chandos recording contains both Masses together in excellent performances and top-notch sound quality. An terrific entry into Johann Hummel’s Masses.

Listen on YouTube

 

Works
Mass in B-flat Major (32.07)
Mass in D Major (37.39)
Alma Virgo (6.25)

Performers
Susan Gritton, soprano
Collegium Musicum 90
Richard Hickox, conductor

Label: Chandos
Year: 2002
Total Timing: 76.19

 

An excellent first entry into the Chandos Hummel Mass series.

Hummel is individual sounding, enough to hold his own against other, more starry composers of the day.

 

Lovers of the Classical Era and early Romantic Era will find much to delight.

 

Find more Hummel recordings HERE!