Steffens: Madrigale & Balletti

Eckert, Simone, Hamburger Ratsmusik, Himlische Cantorey

CPO 777 664-2

Johann Steffens is entered in the long list of choirmasters and organists at St. Johannis in Lüneburg, ahead of such eminent successors as Christian Flor and Georg Böhm. The esteem in which he was held is proved by the fact that he took part alongside 54 of the most highly regarded German masters of the organ at the celebrated inspection of the new Gröningen instrument. Steffens's secular vocal compositions display the influence of Hans Leo Hassler and the Italian madrigalists. His Newe Teutsche Weltliche Madrigalia, »New German Secular Madrigals and Balletts both with living Voices and on all manner of Musical Instruments and Strings to be used with great pleasure«, posthumously published by his son Heinrich in 1618, celebrate »wine, women and song«, nature and good company, and reflect the merriment and occasional coarseness of Germany's post-Reformation mercantile classes, yet to experience the horrors of the Thirty Years' War. The jesting, drinking and love songs inspire Steffens to dance-like writing and plain stanza settings with much »falala«-ing, but also to complex through-composed forms. Homophonic writing alternates with contrapuntal work.

CD x 1

CPO

11/5/13

761203766420