CMM 110-2 Hieronymus Praetorius, Collected Vocal Words, Edited by Frederick K. Gable. Vol. 2, Opus Musicum II

Hieronymus Praetorius (1560-1629) of Hamburg was a preeminent composer in north Germany. His five-volume Opus musicum, originally published between 1599 and 1625, contains 100 Latin and German motets for five to twenty voices (for one to four choirs), six Masses in five to eight parts, and nine eight-part Magnificats. His vocal works display the beginnings of Italian influences on north-German sacred music, especially through the extensive exploitation of polychoral techniques, and exhibit an imaginative blend of old and new styles in sacred music during the early Baroque. This new complete modern edition preserves the arrangement and contents of the original prints. In addition to authoritative scores with continuo parts, each volume includes historical commentary, style criticism and analysis, text translations, performance alternatives, and critical notes. The first volume to be released, Opus musicum II, contains nine Magnificats for eight-part double choir and five grand psalm motets for eight to twelve voices. The works belong to the Catholic and Protestant tradition of Magnificat sets in each of the Canticle tones, usually providing only alternating verses in polyphony. For more information, see http: //www.corpusmusicae.com/cmm/cmm_cc110.htm