Norddeutscher Figuralchor, Musica Alta Ripa, Jörg Straube - Altnickol: Mass and Motets (2007) CD-Rip

As the son-in-law of Johann Sebastian Bach, Johann Chrisoph Altnickol, who married Bach’s daughter Elisabeth Juliana Friederica in 1749, was closely associated with the Bach family. A reference written by his father-in-law which has been preserved testifies to the “very special skill” which Altnickol possessed as a composer and organist. Only a small fraction of Altnickol’s compositions have survived: aside from a few instrumental works, these consist primarily of a small number of works of sacred music, most of which are presented on this CD, and most are world premiere recordings. They include the Kyrie-Gloria-Messe in D minor. In his works Altnickol appears, in varying degrees, to be influenced by his teacher, Johann Sebastian Bach. This is certainly most evident in his chorale motet, Befiehl du deine Wege. In this work Altnickol endows several verses with songlike, expressive tendencies characteristic of the gallant style. This provides a charming contrast to the high baroque, polyphonic style of the remaining verses. The Norddeutsche Figuralchor and Musica Alta Ripa, under the direction of Jörg Straube, is an extremely solid and homogenous-sounding ensemble which masterfully presents the varied facets of these works.