A Wondrous Mystery: Renaissance Choral Music for Christmas

Featuring

Stile Antico
Michael Praetorius
Jacobus Clemens non Papa
Anonymous (Christmas)
Jacobus Gallus
Hieronymus Praetorius

Johannes Eccard
Hans Leo Hassler (von Roseneck)
Peter Cornelius

Did you know?

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Composer Biography

Hieronymus Praetorius (1560-1629), a north-German composer, was no relation to the more famous Michael Praetorius (c.1571-1621), both of whom have works on this album.

Album & Artwork

The album title, "A Wondrous Mystery," is taken from Jacob Handl's motet "Mirabile mysterium," which translates to "A wondrous mystery is declared today."

Performer Biography

Stile Antico, the vocal ensemble on this recording, works without a conductor and has earned accolades including the Gramophone Award for Early Music and two Grammy nominations.

Compositional Technique

Hieronymus Praetorius's Magnificat quinti toni, featured on this album, was intended as a Christmas piece and was published with instructions to intersperse carols between its verses.

Composer Biography

Jacobus Clemens (c.1510-c.1555), known as 'non Papa,' was one of the most prolific composers of the early to mid-16th century despite his comparatively short life.

Compositional Technique

Jacobus Clemens's masses, including the one on this album, were almost invariably based on an existing motet or chanson using parody technique.

Composition History

The Christmas music on this album is gathered from European composers of the late 16th and early 17th centuries, working in both Roman Catholic and Lutheran church traditions.