Johann Christian Bach(1735-1782) Sacred Vocal Works Salve Regina Laudate pueri Dominum Si nocte tenebrosa CPO 999718 - Recorded 1999 Vocalists - Emma Kirby, Mark Schafer. L'Orfeo Barockorchester Michi Gaigg TT 61:05 Summary for the Austere Record Collector: Not on your wavelength The music on yet another J.C. Bach recording from CPO is easy to enjoy, easy to review, and easy to forget. These are sacred works, but you'll be hard pressed to find anything sacred about Bach's music. The three works remind me very much of opera arias and a little of Mozart's opera arias. So don't let the texts fool you; there's no religion or significant spritual uplifting on the disc. The music *is* expertly crafted with fine melodies which keep coming with each track. However, I leave the listening room with no motifs or passages in my head. It's light stuff all the way, and that's my basic complaint with the music. There's too little contrast in mood and style; only tempo among the arias changes significantly. Unlike his dad, J.C.didn't write music to Lutheran text but to Latin text because he converted to Roman Catholicism; such are the trials of having children. J.C. also composed music which bears little resemblance to his father's. Some learned people consider him the first classical-era composer; these three vocal works are certainly in the classical camp. As for the performances, they are very good. Emma Kirby has the honors in the Salve Regina and shares duties with tenor Mark Schafer in the Laudate pueri Dominum; Schafer goes it alone in the Si nocte tenebroso. It all sounds quite politically correct. Kirby displays her customary white voice which, on this recording, sounds much better at a high volume level; the same applies to Schafer. Loud volume is required for their voices to convey any richness. Mr. Schafer, although not as lyrical of voice as Kirby, holds his own rather well. The orchestra and conductor give fine performances; perhaps a little more application of nuance would lift the music to a higher plane, but that's debatable. Recorded sound is excellent with fine crispness, clarity, and balance. The vocalists are not forward of the orchestra, and that's a major advantage. Don's Conclusions: Not an essential acquisition. Other Bach works such as his keyboard concertos display more diversity of emotion and are more distinctive. However, when in the mood for a disc of upbeat arias, this CPO release will likely satisfy. Don Satz [log in to unmask]