Johann Rosenmüller Ensemble - Martin Luther and His Adversary Albrecht von Brandenburg (2002/2020)

The elector and cardinal of Mainz, Archbishop Albrecht of Brandenburg (1490-1545), is today mainly known as the man who triggered the Reformation although at first he stood for reconciliation rather than confrontation. It was only when he saw his political power directly threatened as a result of the Peasants' War that he become a bitter adversary of Martin Luther, expelling all Protestant clergymen from office in his bishoprics and instigating Catholic reforms at all levels. Archbishop Albrecht was perhaps the only German Renaissance prince of the Church who matched his Italian counterparts: art was for him a means of self-glorification and aggrandisement and the court orchestra he established was well known. On this mid-price reissue we hear music from both sides of the divide, including one setting of Psalm 118: 17 by Martin Luther himself. The principle composer featured is the blind organist Arnolt Schlick (c 1460-1521) who has a hand in 10 of the 21 tracks, including his own setting of the same Psalm that Luther set. One of his songs is in praise of Mary which is a clear hint as to where Schlick's loyalties lay. However Schlick's greatest claim to fame is as an organist and composer of organ music and it is difficult to hear how Catholic and Lutheran organ music differ one from another. There are three organ solos on this disc, all played by Margit Schultheiss as well as three lute solos from Johannes Vogt, which tells us that this is a varied collection and of more then just historical interest. The musical as well as the denominational world was changing at this time so we can look back with a Gregorian Antiphon or Arnold von Bruck's 'Te Deum' as well as seeing early hints of the coming Baroque. Germany's Johann Rosenmuller Ensemble under Arno Padruch has five vocalists and five period instrumentalists and this collection sounds very good indeed. If you agree that the past is a foreign country and like exploring off the beaten track then this is worth investigating.