Bach: Actus Tragicus (Cantatas BWV 106, 150, 131, 12) Vox Luminis, Lionel Meunier

• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit in E-Flat Major, BWV 106 "Actus Tragicus":
• 1 I. Sonatina 02:53
• 2 II.a. Chorus "Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit" 01:55
• 3 II.b. Arioso "Ach, Herr, lehre uns bedenken" 02:23
• 4 II.c. Aria "Bestelle dein Haus; denn du wirst sterben" 01:04
• 5 II.d. Chorus "Es ist der alte Bund" 03:49
• 6 III.a. Aria "In deine Hände befehl, ich meinen Geist" 02:19
• 7 III.b. Arioso & Chrorale "Heute wirst du mit mir im Paradies sein" 03:45
• 8 IV. Chorus (Chorale) "Glorie, Lob, Ehr und Herrlichkeit" 02:59
• Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich, BWV 150:
• 9 I. Sinfonia 01:34
• 10 II. Chorus "Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich" 03:33
• 11 III. Aria "Doch bin und bleibe ich vernügt" 01:34
• 12 IV. Chorus "Leite mich in deiner Wahrheit" 02:03
• 13 V. Aria "Zedern müssen von den Winden" 01:11
• 14 VI. Chorus "Meine Auden sehen stets zu dem Herrn" 02:04
• 15 VII. Chorus "Meine Tage in dem Leide" 03:33
• Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir in G Minor, BWV 131:
• 16 I. Chorus "Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir" 04:48
• 17 II. Arioso & Chorale "So du willst, Herr, Sünde zurechnen" 04:39
• 18 III. Chorus "Ich harre des Herrn, meine Seele harret" 03:44
• 19 IV. Aria & Chorale "Meine Seele wartet auf den Herrn" 06:04
• 20 V. Chorus "Israel hoffe auf den Herrn" 04:20
• Weinen, klagen, sorgen, zagen, BWV 12:
• 21 I. Sinfonia 02:27
• 22 II. Chorus "Weinen, klagen, sorgen, zagen" 07:01
• 23 III. Recitative "Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal" 00:42
• 24 IV. Aria "Kreuz und Kronen sind verbunden" 06:54
• 25 V. Aria "Ich folge Christo nach" 02:19
• 26 VI. Aria 'Sei getreu, alle Pein & VII. Chorale "Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan" 05:13
• Total Runtime 01:24:50

Info for Bach: Actus Tragicus (Cantatas BWV 106, 150, 131, 12)

The year ends in fine style with a programme of cantatas by J.S. Bach performed by Vox Luminis. The Belgian group directed by the bass Lionel Meunier is now acknowledged as belonging among the world’s elite vocal ensembles, especially for its interpretations of German Baroque sacred music.

Its recording of works by the ancestors of J. S. Bach on Ricercar (RIC 347) won many awards. Vox Luminis now tackles Johann Sebastian himself, in a programme of cantatas composed in 1707/1708, which are thus among the composer’s earliest. Notable among them is the poignant cantata ‘Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit’ (“God’s time is the best of all times”) BWV 106, also known as the ‘Actus tragicus’, which was composed for a funeral ceremony.

Bach was therefore just twenty-two years old when he wrote this cantata, which opens with a deeply moving dialogue for recorders and continues with the equally fervent chorus ‘Gottes Zeit . . .’

Vox Luminis
Lionel Meunier, conductor

Vox Luminis
founded in 2004 in Namur, Belgium, is an ensemble specialising in the performance of 16th – 18th century vocal music.

The ensemble has been praised for its seamless blend of high quality individual voices, exquisite tuning and clarity of sound. Critics have also commented on the ensemble’s enthusiasm in sharing its passion for early music with an audience. The majority of the group met at one of the most significant centers for early music in Europe: the Royal Conservatory in The Hague.

Vox Luminis has performed in festivals and venues in Belgium (Nuits de Septembre de Liège, festival de Stavelot, Juillet Musical de Saint-Hubert, Automne Musical de Spa, MA festival Bruges, festival van Vlanderen Gent, Laus Polifoniae Antwerpen, festival des midi-Minimes, Eté Musical de Roisin, Société Philharmonique de Namur…); France (festival d’Ambronay, festival de Saintes, Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay, festival de Saint-Michel en Thiérarche, Midsummer festival d’Hardelot, festival Contrepoint 62, Festival Musique et Mémoire de Luxeuil, Musique et Natures en Bauges, festival Bach en Combrailles…); Germany (Ratingen Bachtage festival, Muziekfest Stuttgart); The Netherlands (Oude Muziek Utrecht, Den Haag, Delft); Portugal (Centro Cultural Bélem-Lisbon) and Croatia (Varazdin Baroque Evenings).

Vox Luminis records exclusively for the Belgian Label Ricercar. The ensemble’s first CD, released at the end of 2007, features four vocal works by Domenico Scarlatti, including his famous 10-part Stabat Mater. In May 2010 the ensemble released its second album, Samuel Scheidt: Sacrae Cantiones, which features several world premieres. Vox Luminis’ most recent CD, released in June 2012, created a buzz with an interpretation of Heinrich Schütz’s Musicalische Exequien. This recording has received several prestigious awards such as the Gramophone ‘Recording of the Year’, the ‘Baroque Vocal Gramophone Award’ and the ‘International Classical Music Award’.

Other recordings have also received many awards throughout the world including, Gramophone’s ‘Editor’s Choice’, Diapason d’Or, Choc de Classica, Muse d’Or Baroque, Preis der Deutschen Schallplatten Kritik, Joker de Crescendo and Prix Caecilia.

Vox Luminis is very grateful to have the support of the Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles and the City of Namur.

Lionel Meunier
was born in France. He began his musical education in the music school of his town, Clamecy where he studied solfege, recorder and trumpet. Being passionated for music from his young age, he continued his studies in IMEP, Namur at the age of 18, where he gratuated with high distinction from recorder in 2004 as a student of Tatiana Babut du Mares. He had masterclasses with Jean Tubéry, working at the same time with Hugo Reyne. The same year he started vocal studies in the Royal Conservatoire of the Hague with Rita Dams and Peter Kooij as his teachers.

Since that he has been sung with numerous ensembles such as the Collegium Vocale Gent (P. Herreweghe), World Youth Choir, Arsys Bourgogne (P. Cao), Amsterdam Baroque Choir (T. Koopman), Namur Chamber Choir, Ex Tempore and with soloist ensemble such as I Favoriti de la Fenice (J. Tubery), the Soloists of Namur Chamber Choir, Capella Pratensis and as ripienist with the Nederlandse Bach Vereniging. All these experiences gave him the opportunity to work with many specialists like Christophe Rousset, Tonu Kaljuste, Gustav Leonhardt, Roberto Gini, Jean-Claude Malgoire, Paul Dombrecht, Florian Heyerick, Rinaldo Alessandrini, Richard Egarr...Lionel is also active as a soloist, he has performed the A minor mass of Schubert, Johannes Passion and sever cantatas by J. S. Bach, Haydn's Stabat Mater & Nelson Mass, Kronung's Mass and C minor Mass by Mozart, Mass in G of C. Franck, ect...

He is the artistic director of the ensemble Vox Luminis, group that he created in 2004 with his friend pianist.

Booklet for Bach: Actus Tragicus (Cantatas BWV 106, 150, 131, 12)