Southwell Festival Voices
The Little Baroque Company
Chelys Consort of Viols
Libby Burgess chamber organ
Buxtehude Membra Jesu Nostri
Buxtehude, a contemporary of Bach, is one of the masters of the late Baroque; Membra Jesu Nostri patientis sanctissima (The most holy limbs of our suffering Jesus) is one of his most powerful works; the Minster late at night is the perfect setting for a rare performance. This unique meditation on the body of the crucified Christ is in seven parts, each addressed to a different part of Christ’s body – feet, knees, hands, side, breast, heart and head. In each part biblical words frame verses of a mediaeval poem.
The work is scored for five voices, two violins and basso continuo and in part 6, Ad cor (To the heart), a viol consort is added for dramatic effect. A one-to-a-part consort drawn from the Festival Voices will be joined by leading specialist baroque players – the Little Baroque Company and the Chelys Consort.
