Johann Schelle (1648-1701)
Sacred Music
The King's Consort, Robert King (conductor)

Christus, der ist mein Leben [9'28]
Carolyn Sampson (soprano), Rebecca Outram (soprano), Robin Blaze (countertenor), James Gilchrist (tenor), Peter Harvey (bass), King's Consort Choir

Continuing the series 'Bach's Contemporaries', this volume concentrates on the wonderful music of Johann Schelle - a cousin of Kuhnau (who you will remember was the composer for volume 1, CDA67059). This immensely striking sacred music by Schelle (Bach's immediate predecessor in the post of Kantor in Leipzig's famous Thomas Church) brings together a top-flight group of soloists and a large and colourful assembly of instrumentalists. This third volume of Robert King's much-acclaimed series of music by Bach's contemporaries presents remarkable and splendidly varied music which not only stands up proudly in its own musical right, but also greatly enhances our understanding of Bach's own sacred writing.