Michael Praetorius – A solis ortus cardine & Ein Kind geborn zu Bethlehem—Puer natus in Bethlehem

Michael Praetorius was one of the most important German composers of the 17th century. In addition to a large output of compositions, many of which he published, his magisterial collection “Syntagma Musicum“ preserves a wealth of information about the performing practice, organ-building and organology, and general musicianship of his day. “Ein Kind geborn zu Bethlehem—Puer natus in Bethlehem“ comes from his 1619 collection Polyhymnia caduceatrix et panegyrica. Scored for three soloists (SSB) and SATB chorus, the instrumental accompaniment is unspecified; we have used viols, recorders, and organ. Something of a “proto-cantata,“ it uses a Latin text that is interspersed with a German-language refrain (here reinforced with sackbut and dulcian in addition to recorders). After each of the two large sections of the work, the chorale “Ein Kind geborn zu Bethlehem“ (whose text is a translation of the Latin verses in the main body of the work) is sung in the manner of a congrega