Playlist

Playlist: The Sacred Baroque

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nave_of_the_Church_of_Saint_Lawrence,_Little_Stanmore_%28East-Facing_View_-_02%29.jpg
Nave of the Church of Saint Lawrence, Little Stanmore (East-Facing View), where Handel's Chandos Anthems were first performed (photo by Doyle of London)*

FIRST PUBLISHED 26 OCT 2025

This playlist explores sacred music of the Baroque era through some of its most important genres – from masses and motets to passions, oratorios and anthems.

Alongside towering figures such as JS Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi, you will encounter lesser-known, but equally captivating voices, such as Delalande, Zelenka, Kuhnau and Jommelli. The selection also features instrumental works composed for religious settings, including movements from Corelli’s Sonata da chiesa and a chorale prelude by Buxtehude.

The playlist features tracks from Continuo-funded albums by ensembles such as The Brook Street Band, Early Opera Company and the Harmonious Society of Tickle-Fiddle Gentlemen, as well as recordings by other top early music ensembles including Gabrieli Consort, The English Concert, Arcangelo, La Poème Harmonique and Le Concert des Nations, among others.

Listen on Spotify.

TRACK LIST

1. Monteverdi Vespro della Beata Vergine, SV 206: I. ‘Deus in adiutorum’ | Dunedin Consort and His Majesty’s Sagbutts & Cornetts, Joshua Ellicott, John Butt
2. Pepusch
Rejoice in the Lord: No. 2, ‘Rejoice in the Lord, o ye righteous’ | The Girl Choristers of Canterbury Cathedral, The Harmonious Society of Tickle-Fiddle Gentlemen, Robert Rawson
3. Purcell
My Beloved Spake, Z28 | Julian Podger, Charles Daniels, Charles Pott, Peter Harvey, Gabrieli Consort, Paul McCreesh
4. Handel
O sing unto the Lord a new song, HWV 249b: I. Sonata. Grave-Allegro | Arcangelo, Jonathan Cohen
5. Handel
Let God arise, HWV 256a: VI. ‘Praised Be the Lord’ | Arcangelo, Jonathan Cohen
6. Schütz
Symphoniae Sacrae II, Op. 10: No. 7, ‘Ich danke dir, Herr von ganzem Herzen’, SWV 347 | David de Winter, The Brook Street Band
7. JS Bach
Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4: III. Versus No. 2, ‘Den Tod niemand zwingen kunnt’ | Oxford Bach Soloists, Tom Hammond-Davies
8. JS Bach
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140: I. Coro. ‘Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme’ | Netherlands Bach Collegium, Pieter Jan Leusink, Holland Boys Choir
9. JS Bach
Herz und Mund, und Tat und Leben, BWV 147: I. Coro. ‘Herz und Mund, und Tat und Leben’ | Holland Boys Choir, Netherlands Bach Collegium, Pieter Jan Leusink
10. Charpentier
Te Deum, H146: I. ‘In te, Domine speravi’ | Capella Cracoviensis, La Poème Harmonique, Vincent Dumestre
11. JS Bach
Mass in B minor, BWV 232: ‘Dona nobis pacem’ | The Monteverdi Choir, John Eliot Gardiner
12. Monteverdi
Messa a quattro voci di cappella: IV. Sanctus | Ensemble Vocale Européen de La Chapelle Royale, Philippe Herreweghe
13. Zelenka
Missa Votiva in E minor, ZWV 18: I. Kyrie I | Collegium 1704, Václav Luks
14. Biber
Missa Bruxellensis XXIII - V. ‘Agnus Dei’ | Le Concert des Nations & La Capella Reial de Catalunya, Jordi Savall
15. Jommelli
Missa pro Defunctis: I. Introitus. ‘Requiem aeternam’ | Il Gardellino & Peter van Heyghen
16 & 17. Biber
Requiem à 15 in concerto: ‘Marcia funebre’ and ‘Kyrie eleison’ | Le Concert des Nations & La Capella Reial de Catalunya, Jordi Savall
18. JC Bach
Herr, nun lässest du deinen Diener in Friede fahren | Solomon's Knot
19. Delalande
Confitebor tibi Domine, S56: I. Simphonie. Confitebor | François Piolino, Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, Jérôme Corréas, Les Arts Florissants, William Christie
20 & 21. Corelli
Sonata da chiesa a tre in F, Op. 1 No. 1: I. Grave; II. Allegro | The Avison Ensemble & Pavlo Beznosiuk
22. Jommelli
Libera me: I. ‘Libera me’ | Il Gardellino & Peter van Heyghen
23. Buxtehude
Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BuxWV 223 | René Saorgin
24. Pergolesi
Stabat Mater, P77: I. Duet. ‘Stabat Mater dolorosa’ | Emma Kirkby, James Bowman, Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood
25. Couperin
Première leçon de ténèbres pour le Mercredi saint: II. Aleph | Les Arts Florissants, William Christie
26. Charpentier
Troisième leçon de ténèbres pour le Mercredi saint, H123: XI. ‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, convertere ad Dominum Deum tuum’ | Stéphane Degout, Arcangelo, Jonathan Cohen
27. Maurice Greene
Jephtha, Pt 1: No. 2, ‘Ye sons of Gilead, seek the Lord’ | Early Opera Company, Christian Curnyn
28. Handel
La resurrezione, HWV 47, Pt 1 Scene 2: X. Aria ‘Naufragando va per l'onde’ | Iestyn Davies, The English Concert, Harry Bicket
29. JS Bach
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248, Pt 1 ‘For the First Day of Christmas’: No. 4 ‘Bereite dich, Zion, mit zártlichen Trieben’ | Hugh Cutting, The Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner
30. Vivaldi
Magnificat, RV 610: II. ‘Et exultavit’ | Hanna Bayodi-Hirt, Johannette Zomer, Damien Giullon, La Capella Reial De Catalunya, Jordi Savall
31. JS Bach
Magnificat, BWV 243a: IV. ‘Quia respexit humiltatem’ | Collegium Vocale Gent, Philippe Herreweghe
32. Kuhnau
Magnificat in C: I. ‘Magnificat anima mea Dominum’ | Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki
33. Zelenka
Magnificat in D: III. ‘Amen’ | Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki
34. JS Bach
St John Passion, BWV 245: Pt II No. 23: Recitative & Chorus: ‘Die Juden aber schrieen’ | Mark Padmore, The Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner
35. Telemann
Brockes-Passion, TWV 5: Chor. ‘Mich vom Stricke meiner Sünden’ | RIAS Kammerchor, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, René Jacobs
36. Schütz
Lukas-Passion, SWV 480: No. 1, Introitus | Dresdner Kammerchor, The Sirius Viols, Hans-Christoph Rademann
37. JS Bach
St Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Pt 2: No. 39, ‘Erbarme dich’ | David Allsopp, Academy of Ancient Music, Stephen Cleobury

* For image license details: Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International

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