This year’s Christmas Festival is, in part, a conclusion of OSA’s observation of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.  Martin Luther started a theological revolution in 1517, which subsequently influenced culture in many ways, including some of Germany's greatest music.  Perhaps Samuel Scheidt (1587-1654) is not as well-known as other German composers of his time, but his music is a descendant of Luther's work.

With the Reformation, Latin did not immediately disappear from Protestant worship, and settings of the Latin Magnificat were sung for morning services (Matins), and especially at Christmas.  Scheidt interpolates German Christmas Carol arrangements between the Latin verses of the Magnificat, a tradition we see in J.S. Bach’s setting of the Magnificat, nearly 100 years later. 

Some of Scheidt’s interpolations hint at familiar German tunes, such as Vom Himmel Hoch (From Heaven Above), which was originally written by Luther for his own family celebration of Christmas Eve.  Toward the end of Scheidt’s work we hear an arrangement of Psallite, a tune Scheidt borrowed from Praetorius as published in 1609. Finally, Scheidt closes his Magnificat with a delightful arrangement of Joseph, lieber Joseph mein (Joseph, dearest Joseph mine), familiar and popular German carol dating back to the 14th century.  

The end result is a wonderfully charming setting of the Magnificat, alternating Latin and German texts and, in our performance, accompanied by the early instruments of the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods.

16 Magnificat "Joseph, Lieber Joseph Mein"

Our Saviour's Atonement Lutheran Church