Das Sühnopfer des neuen Bundes
Passion oratorio 1847 (vermutlich)
Carl Loewe is known nowadays almost exclusively as a composer of ballads, but he was close to the spirit of his time and also composed a number of oratorios for the amateur choirs which became so numerous in the Biedermeier period. Das Sühnopfer des neuen Bundes (The atonement of the new covenant) reveals a wealth of expressivity using only a modest scoring.
The solo parts can easily be performed by good amateurs, the well-known chorales give audiences the opportunity to join in the singing, and the scoring, mainly for small string group, underlines the emotions expressed by the soloists. In this oratorio we can hear Loewe’s admiration for the Bach Passions, yet his characteristic musical language, typical of the time, shows that something new could develop from it.
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Composer
Carl Loewe
| 1796-1869Carl Loewe, born 1796 in Löbejün near Halle, died 1869 in Kiel. Son of a cantor; first musical training with D.G. Türk and J.Fr. Reichardt; studied theology; from 1820/21 cantor, municipal music director and music teacher in Stettin; numerous concert tours. His music-historical significance lies in the field of ballad setting. Personal details
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Editor
Reinhold Kubik
| 1942-2024
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Editor
Claudia Seidl
| 1990