If anyone is still inclined to associate Lutheran church music with austerity, Buxtehude’s extraordinary cantata cycle Membra Jesu Nostri should put that idea to rest. The Latin texts –mostly by Arnulf van Leuven (d. 1250)– are reflections on the body parts of the crucified Christ; they express the believer’s love for Christ, and the desire for salvation, using unabashedly physical imagery. Buxtehude’s settings match the sensuality of the most intense madrigals, his responsiveness to the text’s passionate devotion results in some of the most touching music of its time.

Les Voix Baroques, directed from the organ by Alexander Weimann, perform these works one-per-part. In solo passages, the vocal team seems slightly uneven, with some singers having a more vivid presence (both vocally and in terms of their phrasing) than others. Most of the music, however, is for a fuller ensemble; here, the five soloists and the equally-sensitive instrumental group form a superbly integrated consort, movingly communicating the vibrant intimacy and urgent sensuality of Buxtehude’s music.

This recording introduced me to these wonderful works, but I am aware that it is the latest addition to a prestigious discography. Several rival versions offer additional works, extending the playing time which, by today’s standards, is not very generous. Some of them offer perhaps an even stronger vocal line-up, a more incisively dramatic approach or more colourful continuo scoring. Even so, I believe this superb new version can hold its own against all competition. URI GOLOMB