This is CPO’s third release in their Musica Sacra Hamburgensis 1600-1800 series. This time it focuses on the chorale variations and chorale concertos of three Seventeenth Century composers; church music director Thomas Selle, the city music director Johann Schop and the organist Heinrich Scheidemann. There is also a chorale by John Dowland at the end for more listening pleasure.

This is a disc of top-quality sacred music beautifully performed by the Hamburger Ratsmusik, an ensemble that has won repeated praise from the press for its excellent knowledge of baroque style. They won the Echo Classic Award in 2006, a prestigious German music prize for their Lübeck Virtuosos CD on CPO.