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This year, the Protestant world is not the only one to be marked by the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. We know from Martin Luther that he attributed a central role in faith to music, which he valued extraordinarily. For him, music was something heavenly, “because the dear little angels themselves are musicians”. For the reformer, congregational singing was of central importance for communicating the new doctrine of faith, true to his motto “He who sings prays twice.” For this purpose, he not only commissioned new hymns, but is also said to have composed some chorales himself, including the one that undoubtedly best symbolizes the fundamentals of his thought. “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott – Martin Luther und die Musik der Reformation” provides an informative overview of the role of music in Luther’s life, presenting works by various composers ranging from his generation to that of Heinrich Schütz. In addition to polyphonic compositions, this anthology also includes several organ pieces, as the instrument was indispensable to the organization of Protestant worship. With the ensemble Vox Luminis and the organist Bart Jacobs the recorded works experience the best possible realization. The compilation is an excellent supplement to the publication “Reformation and Counter-Reformation” (2659976). In a similar way as here, written and musical information complement each other to form a captivating musical panorama of this eventful era. Reviews “With its double CD dedicated to the music in Luther’s succession, the internationally cast formation has once again succeeded in a big hit! Vox Luminis combines the precision of British soloist ensembles with the warmth and intimacy of the best continental European choirs. The music breathes wonderfully here, the melodies are allowed to unfold their beauty in all its splendor.” (Deutschlandfunk, 05.01.2017) “But above all, the crystal-clear voices of this Belgian ensemble, which specializes in the music of the 17th and 18th centuries, are captivating.” (SWR2, 01/26/2017) “But Lionel Meunier always knows how to cast his ensemble ‘Vox Luminis’ so exquisitely with singers who are on the one hand unreservedly ensemble-capable, but on the other hand also immensely well-timbrated in their own right, that from these exquisite throats every piece, no matter how simple, is a revelation. … one could not wish for more for the Luther Year.” (rondomagazin.de, 04.02.2017) “The Belgian vocal ensemble Vox Luminis dedicates a double album to Martin Luther and the time around the Reformation, which turns out to be a mature concept album with depth of content and convinces in every respect.” (crescendo, May 2017) |
