A printed version of the Motets for 2 or 3 voices Op. 4 was published in Bologna in 1715. Although Caldara was at this time still in the services of Marquis Ruspoli, he dedicated this collection to Cardinal Ottoboni who had gained a wide-ranging reputation as a patron of music during the previous decades. Caldara was appointed as imperial assistant music director in Vienna in 1716. As the favourite composer of Charles VI, Caldara was entrusted with the regular production of music for representative events at the imperial court for the remainder of his life. The motets enjoyed widespread popularity including at the Dresden court which possessed a complete manuscript containing added handwritten annotations in the five vocal parts, still preserved today. This copy was evidently used by the church composer Jan Dismas Zelenka, although it was not among his personal possessions. The organ compositions featured on this recording originated in the Netherlands and North Germany, but are still regarded as an element of a pan-European tradition displaying significant details of Italian style.