The name Martin Luther, a key figure in the Reformation, inspires the entire album, as he was largely responsible for transforming old melodies and texts into new musical forms of the 17th century.
Instruments
The recording uses a diverse instrumental ensemble with typical 17th-century timbres, including violin, viola, viola da gamba, violone, recorder, cornetto, alto and tenor trombone, bass dulcian, harp, theorbo, organ, harpsichord, and percussion.
Composition History
Johann Theile's Christmas cantata 'Nun ich singe, Gott, ich knie,' which concludes the album, was rediscovered in the archive of the Berlin Singakademie in 2001 after decades of being forgotten.
Compositional Technique
Michael Praetorius, a composer featured on this album, described flexible instrumentation practices in his Syntagma musicum, suggesting mixing instruments like violins, cornets, and flutes, or even adding a singer to an instrumental part.
Composition History
The album's program is structured like a 'historia,' a musical form developed in 17th-century Lutheran middle Germany that combined Gospel recitations with choruses and concertante elements.
Compositional Technique
The album features a diverse range of musical forms and styles, including sacred concertos, chorale concertos, motets, simple chorale movements, and folk songs.
You might also enjoy...
Legrenzi: Sonate & balletti
Valeri: Organ Works
Nuove Invenzioni
Jeffrey Jacob: Reawakening
Nuove Invenzioni
Trombone Recital: Lindberg, Christian - Castello, D. / Speer, D. / Frescobaldi, G.A. / Biber, H.I.F. Von / Cesare, G. (The Baroque Trombone)
