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Reviewer: James
A. Altena
The year
2017 is awash in CDs being issued to mark in various ways the 500th
anniversary of the unwitting launch of the Protestant Reformation by Martin
Luther. I have already reviewed two or three such releases, but this one is
I think the finest to have come my way. It contains two discs housed in the
covers at either end of an elegant 104-page trilingual English-French-German
book. Said book contains detailed essays, copious historical illustrations
(many reproduced in full color) and complete texts (also trilingual, or
quadrilingual for a Latin rather than German original). The contents of the
first CD follow the course of the liturgical year; the second features
various aspects of the Reformed Lutheran liturgies of word and sacrament.
Out of 36 selections, eight are for organ only (played by Bart Jacobs), and
the rest for various combinations of voices, instruments, and organ. Most of
the composers featured here—Michael Altenburg (1584–1640), Christoph
Bernhard (1628–1692), Joachim Burck (1546–1610), Melchior Franck (c.
1579–1639), Bartholomäeus Gesius (1555 or 1562–1613), Andreas Hammerschmidt
(c. 1611–1675), Martin Luther (1483–1546), Caspar Othmayr (1515–1553),
Michael Praetorius (1571–1621), Balthasar Resinarius (c. 1485–1544),
Heinrich Scheidemann (c. 1595–1663), Samuel Scheidt (1587–1654), Johann
Hermann Schein (1586–1630), Heinrich Schütz (1585–1672), Thomas Selle
(1599–1663), Paul Siefert (1586–1666), Delphin Strungk (c. 1601–1694),
Johann Steffens (1560–1616), and Johann Walter (1496–1570)—either lived, or
at least were born, in the 16th century. The performances are unfailingly
stylish and well executed by all concerned, and also well recorded.
Everything about this project bespeaks thoughtfulness and care; very highly
recommended.
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