My soul, now bless thy Maker (Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren)

SKU: CA.103400

ISBN 9790007188825. 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. Even in the small-scale form of the chorale arrangement for two to three voices and basso continuo, Praetorius gives hints of the range of sound textures he is to use: the alternation between contrapuntal and homophonic styles of setting, duple and triple meter, and different dynamic. Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren is available on the CD Praetorius: Gloria sei dir gesungen. Choralkonzerte (Carus 83.482).