Telemann composed his 72 cantatas that comprise the Harmonishcher Gottesdienst with both the amateur and professional musician in mind. The short three-part works are easy enough that they present an attainable challenge to the amateur musician, yet difficult enough that an accomplished performer can make them shine. Telemann was apparently intent on making money from this series by aiming it at the largest possible market, additionally insuring its success by making it available in installments on a subscription plan. The cantatas on this current CD cover many topics, including praise of God, and getting through tough times with His help. Another theme is the giving up of wicked, worldly ways, this most obviously expounded in Cantata No. 48, “Look not back on Sodom!” In this work, the composer set a text loaded with warnings about the wages of sin to the most delightful and bucolic of melodies. Could this have been an “in joke” from a man who was making quite a good living from selling his wares and thus might not have found all earthly pleasures undesirable? The performances, as in the rest of the CDs in this series, hew a middle course between earnest amateur and trained professional, with soprano Monika Frimmer once again emerging as the most accomplished soloist. The obligato playing is handled well and the basso continuo is rock solid. Better sound on this one than some of the others: cleaner, better balanced, and more open.
