Heaven Is My Fatherland
The Life and Work of Michael Praetorius
- History & Biography
- Publisher: Resource Publications (Wipf and Stock)
- Published: 2020
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Publisher's Description
Michael Praetorius (1571-1621) was "one of the most versatile, wide-ranging, and prolific German composers of the seventeenth century," "also important as a theorist," and "the most often quoted and excerpted writer on performance practice." 2021 marks the four hundredth anniversary of this Lutheran musician's death and the four hundred and fiftieth anniversary of his birth. Yet until now, no biography of this multitalented and fascinating man has been made available in English. This translation of Siegfried Vogelsanger's 2008 German biography of Praetorius will introduce you to Praetorius's family and employers, his work as organist and court music director, his sacred and secular musical compositions, his historical and theoretical musical work, his grandiose goals and plans, and--most importantly--the man himself. Appendices provide new insights into Praetorius's ancestry and life, as well as new translations of primary sources written by Praetorius and others. Richly furnished with pictures and illustrations and supplemented with a glossary, Heaven Is My Fatherland will transport you into Praetorius's world and open up for you the convictions of his heart.
Endorsements (3)
“Siegfried Vogelsänger wrote his brief 2008 Praetorius biography as a ‘compendium in layperson’s terms for music lovers and music scholars alike.’ Rev. Biebert not only translates this excellent resource, but provides annotations giving insights into the theological roots from which Praetorius’s music sprang. Appendices offer new translations of relevant prefaces and contemporary documents. As a one-stop resource this book is without peer and will greatly benefit English-language Praetorius scholarship.”
“At last, a rich trove of information about Michael Praetorius for English-speaking audiences! Heaven Is My Fatherland opens the door not only to Praetorius’s life and music, but also the milieu in which he lived and worked. This clearly written, richly annotated, and beautifully illustrated book will fascinate anyone with an interest in German music circa 1600.”
“This translation of Vogelsänger’s biography of Michael Praetorius is a most welcome addition to our understanding of this important Lutheran composer. . . . In pursuit of his craft, one sees an eager, energetic, inventive, creative, eccentric personality at work! A must-read for Lutheran musicians.”
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