Johaness Brahms’s (1833 – 1897) Wenn wir in höchsten was originally written for an eight-part choir. The German title is the first three words of the sentence in the text. The English translation is: When we are in great distress.
J.S. Bach’s (1685 – 1750) Duetto No.1 was originally written for solo Clavier (keyboard). The reason for the ambiguous title was to indicate that the music itself is in two parts; clearly separated between the left and right hands of a single keyboard player. This is the first of four “duets” by Bach, BWV 802-805, and I plan to record the complete set.
Claudio Monteverdi’s (c.1561 -1613) Lamento della ninfa (Lament of the nymph) was originally written for four voices, one female and three male, over a ground bass. There is clear separation in the music between the soprano and male voices. My transcription emphasizes this by lowering the male parts down an octave.
Carlo Gesualdo’s (c.1561 -1613) Aestimatus sum was originally written for a six-part choir. The Latin title is the first two words of the first sentence in the text. The English translation is: I am counted with them that go down into the pit.
Thomas Tallis’s (1505 -1581) Spem in alium was originally written for a forty-part choir, which is subdivided into eight, five-part choirs. The Latin title is the first three words of the first sentence in the text. The English translation is: I have never put my hope in any other but in you. My transcription does not combine any of the parts. I have recorded each part on forty separate tracks.
