Johannes Eccard (1553-1611):
O Freude über Freud
Maria, das Jungfräulein
Frei Dich, du werte Christenheit
Mein Sünd mich kränkt
Zu dieser österlichen Zeit
Freut euch, ihr Christen alle
Der heilig Geist vom Himmel kam
Mir ist ein geistlichs Kirchelein
Der Zacharias ganz verstummt
Übers Gebirg Maria geht
Mein schönste Zier und Kleinod bist

Johannes Stobaus (1580-1646):
Macht hoch die Tür
Such, wer da will, ein Andres Ziel
Wes ist der Stern
Gott einen hellen Wunderstern

In his edition of the Preussische Festlieder [Prussian Festive Songs] in 1642 (Erster Theil) [first part] and 1644 (Ander Theil) [other part] the Brandenburg-Prussian court kapellmeister Johannes Stobaus erected a musical monument to himself and his teacher Johannes Eccard (1553–1611). Eccards works are of great significance to the development of Protestant church music of the time since, on the one hand, they address the need for relatively easy-to-perform Gebrauchsmusik [functional music] for festive occasions, yet on the other hand, his music also satisfies high artistic standards. The five-part to eight-part Preussische Festlieder, which played a particularly important role in Eccard’s rediscovery in the middle of the 19th century, demonstrate a striving towards the development of sonorous potential.

The recording by the Vocal Concert Dresden and the Capella de la Torre turns the 400th anniversary of Eccard’s death into a celebration of Eccard and Protestant church music.