For Passion in 1680 Dieterich Buxtehude composed his greatest ortatorio-like work, the cantata cycle "Membra Jesu nostri". He dedicated it to his friend Gustav Düben, the Swedish Court Composer. Basically, the seven individual cantatas followed thestructural scheme of an “ instrumental introduction choral movement based on a biblical text vocal solo [aria] based on a sacred text of the Middle Ages and a repetition of the opening choral movement.” Within this scheme the feet, knees,hands, side, chest, heart and face of the crucified Christ are treated allegorically. Under the direction of Hans-Christoph Rademann the solo ensemble and the Dresdner Kammerchor have achieved amost impressive rendering of this work, which isentirely indebted to the gesture and expression of the text. The CD is rounded off by world premiere performances of two chorale cantatas by this composer from Lübeck, the 300th anniversary of whose death is being commemorated this year.
| Genres | Sacred |
| Publisher | Carus Verlag |
| Contributors | Buxtehude, Dietrich(Composer) |