The recording provides insight into musical life in Leipzig around 1700, featuring works by three composers who consecutively led the city's musical activities.
Composer Biography
Johann Kuhnau, Schelle's successor, was a polymath who studied law and mastered music, law, theology, rhetoric, poetry, mathematics, and foreign languages.
Composer Biography
Johann Schelle, a member of the Dresden electoral chapel choir under Heinrich Schütz, became Thomaskantor in Leipzig in 1677, the city's most important musical position.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded from a single live concert performance, with limited pre- and post-recording, to reflect the ensemble Solomon's Knot's 'live' performance style.
Composition History
Johann Sebastian Bach's Magnificat in E-flat major BWV 243a was composed for his first Christmas Day in Leipzig, with its setting of the Virgin Mary's song interspersed with texts by Martin Luther and from Luke's Gospel.
Critical Reception
A contemporary witness reported that people 'flew like bees' to churches because of Johann Schelle's music's 'sweet honey'.
Compositional Technique
Bach's Magnificat includes the oboe melody in 'Quia respexit' to convey devout humility and Italianate roulades in 'Deposuit potentes' to vividly depict the mighty falling from their seats.
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