Cyril Amenti's Coin

The disc Astrée E 8544 accommodates four sacred cantatas none of which commence with the customary choral movement. Cantata Ich bin ein guter Hirt (I am the Good Shepherd), BWV 85 is in six movements and is intended for Misericordias Domini (the second Sunday after Easter). It was first heard in 1725. All four soloists are deployed with a four-part chorus that appears in the very short last movement chorale. Bach chose to use a pair of oboes and a piccolo cello in addition to the strings and basso continuo.

On Astrée E 8855 there are three sacred cantatas. The first is Jesu, nun sei gepreiset (Jesus, now be praised), BWV 41. Bach wrote the six movement score in 1725 to celebrate New Year's Day (Circumcision of Christ, Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus). The composer wrote parts for all four soloists and a four-part chorus. There is a rich and varied instrumentation: a piccolo cello in a concerted part, three trumpets, three oboes, strings, basso continuo with the addition of timpani. Of the two chorales the uplifting and sparkling first chorus with its trumpet fanfare lasts over eight minutes.

Les dictionnaires de musique du XIXe siècle signalent tous l’importance de Gross comme violoncelliste et compositeur. Il est injustement absent de ceux d’aujourd’hui. Son oeuvre de plus de 43 opus est composée principalement de musiques pour le violoncelle, de pièces pour piano, de lieder et de quatre quatuors à cordes.