CD 91
Memorial Concert on the 400th Anniversary
Choir book with works by Blasius Amon, Munich 1590
of the Death of Blasius Amon Tyrolensis
Blasius Amon (ca. 1560-1590), almost forgotten today, is one of the most important composers of the end of the 16th century. According to lexicographers of the past, he was one of the greatest contrapunists of his day, and the Vienna necrology (15 August 1590) notes that he was: „... such an excellent musician that Germany could produce no one comparable.“ All of his works were published during his lifetime in Vienna and Munich. Blasius Amon was born in Hall in the Tyrol; in about 1568 he joined Archduke Ferdinand’s music ensemble as a choirboy in Innsbruck, where he stayed for ten years. The musical directors Wilhelm Bruneau (active 1564- 1584) and Alexander Utendal (active 1564-1581) gave him a thorough musical education, which he completed on study trips. Among other places, he went to Venice in 1582, where he may have been a student of Andrea Gabrieli (ca. 1515-1586). Amon was the fi rst Austrian to make his way to Venice to study the latest developments in music, particularly the polychoral technique. Blasius Amon died in Vienna; he had joined the Franciscan order a few years previously.Themusiccollection of the Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum aims to keep the oeuvre of Blasius Amon alive and to present all of it to the public bit by bit. This live recording is the fi rst musical documentation of works by this extraordinary Tyrolean composer. Other compositions by Blasius Amon are on CD 9 (tracks 10-16).
Track 13, 2:17
Cantate Domino