Drei Arien ohne Worte, arranged for Viola and Piano (Organ)

Heribert Breuer has made a name for himself as an arranger of Baroque, classical and Romantic works. His sense of the special characteristics of each work shows in highly different instrumentations, and he knows how to present the work in an illuminating light thanks to his new arrangement.In his version of three arias for viola and organ by Bach, Breuer places the well-known Agnus Dei from the Mass in B minor right between two tenor arias (from the cantatas Ich bin ein guter Hirt BWV 85 and Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland BWV 61). Each of the pieces can be performed separately. The fact, however, that the two pastorals in a swinging 9/8 meter frame the middle movement which is characterized by musical figures of pain and cross, suggests a complete performance. The keys and pitches are the same as the original ones used by Bach.

Aria, Duet

• Simrock, 2015