Christmas Vespers: Music Of Michael Praetorius

$14.99
Label
Avie Records
Release Date
November 1, 2015
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      PRAETORIUS, MICHAEL
    • PERFORMER
      Apollo's Fire, Sorrell
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      November 01, 2015
    • UPC
      822252230628
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      AV2306
    • LABEL
      Avie Records
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Orchestral & Symphonic
    Works ⌄

    1. Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland (arr. J. Sorrell for choir)

      Composer: Michael Praetorius

      Ensemble: Apollo's Singers, Apollo's Musettes, Apollo's Fire

      Performer: Scott Mello, Kirsten Sollek

      Conductor: Jeannette Sorrell

    2. Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland

      Composer: Michael Praetorius

      Ensemble: Apollo's Singers, Apollo's Musettes, Apollo's Fire

      Conductor: Jeannette Sorrell

    3. Wachet auf

      Composer: Michael Praetorius

      Ensemble: Apollo's Singers, Apollo's Musettes, Apollo's Fire

      Conductor: Jeannette Sorrell

    4. Puer natus

      Composer: Michael Praetorius

      Ensemble: Apollo's Singers, Apollo's Musettes, Apollo's Fire

      Conductor: Jeannette Sorrell

    5. Ach, Mein Herre

      Composer: Michael Praetorius

      Ensemble: Apollo's Singers, Apollo's Musettes, Apollo's Fire

      Conductor: Jeannette Sorrell

    6. Wir glauben all an einen Gott

      Composer: Michael Praetorius

      Ensemble: Apollo's Singers, Apollo's Musettes, Apollo's Fire

      Conductor: Jeannette Sorrell

    7. Terpsichore: Bransle de Poictu - Gaillarde - Bransle gay - Bransle simple - Bransle double

      Composer: Michael Praetorius

      Ensemble: Apollo's Fire

      Conductor: Jeannette Sorrell

    8. Polyhymnia Caduceatrix and Panegyrica: Gloria sei Gott

      Composer: Michael Praetorius

      Ensemble: Apollo's Singers, Apollo's Musettes, Apollo's Fire

      Conductor: Jeannette Sorrell

    9. Puericinium: Quem Pastores

      Composer: Michael Praetorius

      Ensemble: Apollo's Singers, Apollo's Musettes, Apollo's Fire

      Conductor: Jeannette Sorrell

    10. Christum wir sollen loben schon (arr. M. Praetorius and L. Osiander for choir)

      Composer: Martin Luther

      Ensemble: Apollo's Singers, Apollo's Musettes

      Conductor: Jeannette Sorrell

    11. Magnificat, Part I-II

      Composer: Michael Praetorius

      Ensemble: Apollo's Singers, Apollo's Musettes, Apollo's Fire

      Conductor: Jeannette Sorrell

    12. O morning star

      Composer: Michael Praetorius

      Ensemble: Apollo's Singers, Apollo's Musettes, Apollo's Fire

      Conductor: Jeannette Sorrell

    13. Magnificat, Part III-IV

      Composer: Michael Praetorius

      Ensemble: Apollo's Singers, Apollo's Musettes, Apollo's Fire

      Conductor: Jeannette Sorrell

    14. Lo how a rose e'er blooming (Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen)

      Composer: Michael Praetorius

      Ensemble: Apollo's Singers, Apollo's Musettes, Apollo's Fire

      Conductor: Jeannette Sorrell

    15. Our Father in Heaven

      Composer: Michael Praetorius

      Ensemble: Apollo's Singers, Apollo's Musettes, Apollo's Fire

      Conductor: Jeannette Sorrell

    16. Eulogodia Sionia: Benedicamus aeterno Regi

      Composer: Michael Praetorius

      Ensemble: Apollo's Singers, Apollo's Musettes, Apollo's Fire

      Conductor: Jeannette Sorrell

    17. Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren

      Composer: Michael Praetorius

      Performer: Michael Sponseller

    18. Polyhymnia Caduceatrix and Panegyrica: In dulci jubilo

      Composer: Michael Praetorius

      Ensemble: Apollo's Singers, Apollo's Musettes, Apollo's Fire

      Conductor: Jeannette Sorrell


Martin Luther had many students and disciples. One of them was named Praetorius, and that student had a son named Michael. Michael became – along with J.S. Bach – one of the two greatest composers in the history of Protestant church music. Michael Praetorius left us an enormous quantity of sacred music, for children’s choir, adult choir, strings, brass, lutes, and soloists. He was also acclaimed as an organist and theorist. His monumental music treatise, Syntagma musicum (1619), is considered the most important work of music theory in the early Baroque, and provides musicians with a wealth of practical information.

Living at the same time as Monteverdi, the great revolutionary composer of Italy, Praetorius was aware of the new and virtuosic elements of Monteverdi’s music; however, he firmly upheld Luther’s ideal that the common people should be able to participate in the music-making in some way. Therefore, while Monteverdi’s music requires an entirely professional ensemble of virtuoso singers, such as existed at St. Mark’s in Venice, Praetorius channeled his imaginative flair toward writing music that brought together professional singers,
humble village choirs, children’s voices, and even congregational singing.

Thus, Praetorius’ music combines the drama and virtuosity of something like the Monteverdi Vespers, with the simple and accessible traditions of Lutheran hymn-tunes that many Protestants know by heart.