Music And Religious Identity In Counter-reformation Augsburg, 1580-1630 (st Andrews Studies In Reformation History)

By the late-sixteenth century, Augsburg was one of the largest cities of the Holy Roman Empire, boasting an active musical life involving the contributions of musicians like Jacobus de Kerle, Hans Leo Hassler, and Gregor Aichinger. This musical culture, however, unfolded against a backdrop of looming religious schism. From the mid-sixteenth century onward, Augsburg was the largest 'biconfessional' city in the Empire, housing a Protestant majority and a Catholic minority, ruled by a city government divided between the two faiths. The period 1580-1630 saw a gradual widening of the divide between these groups. The arrival of the Jesuits in the 1580s polarized the religious atmosphere and fueled the assertion of a Catholic identity, expressed in public devotional services, spectacular processions, and pilgrimages to local shrines. The Catholic music produced for these occasions both reflected and contributed to the religious divide. This book explores the relationship between music and religious identity in Augsburg during this period. How did 'Catholic' and 'Protestant' repertories diverge from one another? What was the impetus for this differentiation, and what effect did the circulation and performance of this music have on Augsburg's religious culture? These questions call for a new, cross-disciplinary approach to the music history of this era, one which moves beyond traditional accounts of the lives and works of composers, or histories of polyphonic genres. Using a wide variety of archival and musical documents, Alexander Fisher offers a holistic view of this musical landscape, examining aspects of composition, circulation, performance, and cultural meaning [Publisher description].

fisher (music, U. Of British Columbia) Explores The Relationship Between Music And Religious Identity In The Largest City In The Holy Roman Empire Containing Sizable Populations Of Both Protestants And Catholics. He Explores How Catholic And Protestant Repertories Diverged From One Another, What The Impetus Was For The Differentiation, And The Effect The Circulation And Performance Of The Music Have On Augsburg's Religious Culture. He Draws On A Wide Variety Of Archival And Musical Documents To Present A Holistic Musical Landscape That Incorporates Aspects Of Composition, Circulation, Performance And Cultural Meaning. The Lyrics Of Example Songs Longer Than A Stanza Are Translated Into English Alongside The German. Much Of The Material Originated In His Ph.d. Dissertation For Harvard University. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, Or

"This book explores the relationship between music and religious identity in Augsburg during this period. How did 'Catholic' and 'Protestant' repertories diverge from one another? What was the impetus for this differentiation, and what effect did the circulation and performance of this music have on Augsburg's religious culture? These questions call for a new, cross-disciplinary approach to the music history of this era, one which moves beyond traditional accounts of the lives and works of composers, or histories of polyphonic genres. Using a wide variety of archival and musical documents, Alexander Fisher offers a holistic view of this musical landscape, examining aspects of composition, circulation, performance, and cultural meaning."--Jacket