Martin Luther, Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott: Luther and the Music of the Reformation – Vox Luminis

   in Choir & Organ (Jul, 2017)
The 500th anniversary of the publication of Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses, which prompted the Lutheran Reformation, is celebrated by three interesting recordings, each of which has a different agenda.

The Vox Luminis recording, Ein feste Burg, is presented in a lavish book containing essays, pictures and interesting notes. The first CD is based on the liturgical year, including works by Scheidemann, Altenburg, Hammerschmidt, Praetorius, Scheidt, Schein and Melchior Franck in chorale-based pieces for each liturgical season. The second CD presents the foundations of the Lutheran liturgy: German Magnificat, Mass, Passion, and Requiem. The 15 singers of the choir are frequently divided up into groups and solo ensembles, and organ chorale fantasias …