In his late work, particularly the Johannespassion, Demantius aimed for an emotional re-experiencing and dramatic objectification of Jesus's passion, moving beyond mere narration.
Composer Biography
Christoph Demantius, a German vocal composer of the late Renaissance and early Baroque, was born in Bohemia in 1567 and died in Freiberg in 1643.
Performer Biography
Ensemble Polyharmonique is a collective of singers from Europe's early music scene, focusing on Renaissance and Baroque vocal music with historical performance practice.
Composer Biography
Andreas Hammerschmidt, born in Bohemia in 1611, was a prolific composer of Protestant church music, with over 500 works surviving in print and manuscript.
Compositional Technique
Demantius's Johannespassion is notable for its 'figural passion' style, which uniformly sets the entire text polyphonically without distinguishing between solo and choral parts.
Compositional Technique
Hammerschmidt's music is characterized by sensuous melodies and an 'italianità' style, making it catchy and well-rounded, contributing to its popularity in the 17th century.
Historical Context
The program aims to recreate a Good Friday devotional hour as it might have been heard in 17th-century Central Germany, combining works by Demantius, Hammerschmidt, and others.
