The collection “Polyhymnia Caduceatrix & Panegyrica” of 1619 is rightly regarded as the high point in Michael Praetorius’s output. It combines “Solennische Friedt- und Frewden-Concert:” which Praetorius as a travelling musician had composed largely for festive occasions – he writes of “Kayser: König: Chur: vnd Fürstlichen zusammen Kunfften” – and also for “fürnehme Capellen vnd Kirchen”. In these chorael concerti the highly modern, Italian style and the Protestant chorale combine and form a symbiosis which showed the way forward for the history of German music. The chorale settings draw on influences from Venetian polychoral music, use ritornelli and employ obbligato instruments in a way which is beyond compare, even in contemporary Italy. Here we see a quite different side of the master from the composer of “Es ist ein Ros entsprungen”. And above all, Praetorius always remains a practical musician who ensures that these breathtaking chorale concerti can also be effectively performed with smaller forces, sometimes considerably reduced ones. In the chorale setting “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern” Praetorius wrote for a five-part ensemble which is joined in some sections by a four-part capella. For the ensemble, Praetorius suggested both voices and instruments, which he uses in a sophisticated texture of sound, the instruments sometimes duplicating the voices and sometimes alternating with them.
- ISMN: 9790007171735 (M007171735)
