CD 9

Tyrolean Musical Treasures 8

Tiroler Passions- und Osterkonzert 1999
Leonhard Lechner Athesinus (*about 1553 in South Tyrol, †1606 in Stuttgart) and Blasius Amon Tyrolensis (*about 1560 in Hall in the Tyrol, † 1590 in Vienna) are the two outstanding musician personalities of the Tyrol in the second half of the 16th century. Both attained international fame and their works rank in the universal history of music. Lechner, designated a “remarkable composer and musician” already in his youth (records of the Nuremberg town council 1577), attained the post of director of the court ensemble of singers and instrumentalists in Stuttgart. Amon was the fi rst German-speaking composer to go to Venice and study the new polychoral music that had originated at St Mark’s Cathedral. As the first non- Italian to apply this new principle of composition, he succeeded masterfully, which is demonstrated by the last motets in his famous Sacrae Cantiones collection (Munich 1590). This CD introduces them in sound for the fi rst time. Amon was still young when he died. According to early lexicographers he was one of the greatest contrapuntists of his time, and the Viennese necrology of 16 August 1590 records that he was such an excellent musician that Germany could not furnish an equal. Lechner’s Passion music dating from 1593 does not follow the wording of a single evangelist but is a synopsis of all four Gospels. Lechner evidently set great store by incorporating all seven words of Jesus on the Cross. On the other hand, everything that does not relate directly to the account of the Passion has been left out. The vocal setting is based on the old Passion mode, that festive tone of recitation customary for the solemn delivery of Passions in Latin.

Track 15, 4:28
Laudate Pueri Dominum
Blasius Amon Tyrolensis
(um 1560-1590)

© 2002-2012 by Institut für Tiroler Musikforschung Alle Rechte vorbehalten