Collegium Musicum des Westdeutscher Rundfunk (Instrumental Ensemble)

Founded: 1948 - Köln (Cologne), North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

As long ago as 1948, a WDR house chamber orchestra was in the planning. An initial core of strings - the "Gurlenich Quartett Köln" - was regularly supplemented by soloists and conductors from North Rhine-Westphalia and the whole of West Germany. In addition to the staging of joint concerts, the ensemble made recordings, mostly of popular classical and early music chamber pieces, but also including the occasional contemporary work. An initial move towards using period instruments came about through a joint project with the English Deller Consort. As a result the repertoire expanded to include Renaissance music.

The Collegium Musicum des Westdeutscher Rundfunk (= CM-WDR) also performed frequently with well-known choirs. As well as working with the Aachener Domchor, the Regensburger Domspatzen, the Tölzer Knabenchor and Stuttgart's Hymnus-Chorknaben, the ensemble forged a uniquely varied working relationship with the Windsbacher Knabenchor and the then incumbent director Hans Thamm.

At one time Westdeutscher Rundfunk's Collegium Musicum and the somewhat younger Collegium Aureum were both under the direction of the permanent concertmaster Franzjosef Maier. Over the years, famous musicians - Gustav Leonhardt, Wilhelm Krumbach, Franz Lehrndorfer and the Kuijken brothers - have often enhanced the quality of the orchestra. Regular guest appearances have also been made by singers Elly Ameling, Elisabeth Speiser, Hanna Schwarz, Theo Altmeyer, Siegmund Nimsgern and Barry McDaniel, whilst Kurt Thomas, Hermann Schröder, Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden, not to mention the Windsbacher Knabenchor’s Hans Thamm and Karl-Friedrich Beringer, are just some of those who have directed joint choral/orchestral projects.

Sources:
Liner notes to the CD ‘J.S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 215 & BWV 195’ conducted by Karl Friedrich Beringer (Rondeaus, 2000)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (December 2003)

Rudolf Pohl: Short Biography | Ensembles: Aachener Domchor | Collegium Musicum des WDR
Bach Discography: Recordings of Vocal Works

Gerhard Wilhelm: Short Biography | Ensembles: Stuttgarter Hymnus-Chorknaben | Collegium Musicum des WDR
Bach Discography: Recordings of Vocal Works | BWV 244 - Münchinger

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Karl Friedrich Beringer

Orchestra

BWV 195, BWV 215

Wilhelm Ehmann

Orchestra

[CR-17] (1965, Radio recording): BWV 17

Helmuth Kählhofer

Orchestra

[CR-12] (1966, Radio recording): BWV 12
[CR-42] (1966, Radio recording): BWV 42
[CR-44] (c1966, Radio recording): BWV 44
[CR-78] (Mid 1960's?, Radio recording): BWV 78
[CR-97] (1965?, Radio recording): BWV 97
[CR-102] (c1966, Radio recording): BWV 102
[CR-112] (Before 1966, Radio recording): BWV 112
[CR-127] (1966, Radio recording): BWV 127
[CR-177] (1965, Radio recording): BWV 177
[CR-182] (1966, Radio recording): BWV 182

Mathieu Lange

Orchestra

[CR-54] (Mid 1970's?, Radio recording): BWV 54

Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden

Orchestra

[CR-20] (1964, Radio recording): BWV 20
[CR-110] (Late 1960's?, Radio recording): BWV 110 [1^st recording]
[CR-132] (1964, Radio recording): BWV 132
[CR-151] (c1964, Radio recording): BWV 151

Hermann Schröder

Orchestra

[CR-6] (Mid 1960's?, Radio recording): BWV 6
[CR-32] (1967, Radio recording): BWV 32

Hans Thamm

Orchestra

[CR-31] (1975?, Radio recording): BWV 31
[CR-40] (1975?, Radio recording): BWV 40
[CR-44] (1971?, Radio recording): BWV 44
[CR-73] (1967, Radio recording): BWV 73
[CR-92] (1963, Radio recording): BWV 92
[CR-93] (1963, Radio recording): BWV 93 [1^st recording]
[CR-95] (1970, Radio recording): BWV 95
[CR-108] (1971, Radio recording): BWV 108
[CR-116] (1967, Radio recording): BWV 116
[CR-139] (1969, Radio recording): BWV 139
[CR-140] (1967, Radio recording): BWV 140
[CR-181] (1971, Radio recording): BWV 181
[CR-186] (1970?, Radio recording) BWV 186

Kurt Thomas

Orchestra

[CR-33] (before 1976, Radio recording): BWV 33
[CR-35] (1965, Radio recording): BWV 35
[CR-36] (1965, Rrecording): BWV 36
[CR-51] (1965?, Radio recording): BWV 51 [2^nd recording]
[CR-96] (1965, Radio recording): BWV 96
[CR-148/2] (1966, Radio recording): BWV 148 [2^nd recording]

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