Missa Pastoralis / Missa Solemnis
Little known today outside of music history books, Johann Baptist Vanhal (1739-1813) was an important and influential figure--not least for his participation in a string quartet that included Haydn and Mozart! His symphonies and quartets have begun to attract renewed interest. This disc offers two out of around 50 surviving Mass settings. TheMissa Pastoralisis a delightful example of the rustic version of the genre that was especially popular in Bohemia at the time. TheMissa Solemnisfeatures the organ part common to more traditional Masses, but the symphonic treatment of the text and often elaborate orchestral writing anticipate the magnificent series of Masses composed by Haydn at the turn of the 19th century, and beyond that, the similarly titled Mass in D major by Beethoven. Uwe Grodd gets the balance right between the intimate and imposing aspects of Vanhal's music, and the New Zealand-based Tower Voices are expressively alert and attentive. Allan Bradley prepared the performing editions and contributes a booklet note valuable for its historical overview. Inventive and personable music well worth getting to know.--Richard Whitehouse