SKU: CA.1002719

ISBN 9790007181413. Text language: German.

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: Konig: Chur: vnd Furstlichen zusammen Kunfften - and also for furnehme Capellen vnd Kirchen. In these chorale 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 choral concerti can also be effectively performed with smaller forces, sometimes considerably reduced ones. Praetorius gives the verses of the well-known Easter hymn Christ ist erstanden to the concertists (soloists or small choir), who can perform these in alternating scorings. At the beginning, between the verses, and at the end, a magnificent Halleluja occurs as a ritornello, which can be performed by up to 5 choirs - ad lib, of course. Score and parts available separately - see item CA.1002700.