Psalms for Salzburg Cathedral

The composer Andreas Hofer (1628/29-1684) is probably hardly known even by music connoisseurs! Yet he was Cathedral and Court Kapellmeister in Salzburg at a time when the prince-archbishopric was considered one of the most important centers of Western music. Hofer was in charge of all the music of the prince-archbishopric, both in the great Baroque cathedral and at court, and he brought the most accomplished musicians to Salzburg: among them none other than Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber as Vice-Kapellmeister and Georg Muffat as cathedral organist! This program presents seven psalm concertos by Hofer for one or two solo voices, strings and basso continuo. They are composed in the style of Monteverdi's seconda prattica, virtuosic and bursting with melodic ideas. In contrast, the collection of Psalmi brevi and his Missa Valete, for five voices and strings, show Hofer's great skill in vocal polyphony. Performers are the vocal ensemble Capella Spirensis of the Dommusik Speyer and the orchestra L'arpa festante conducted by the Domkapellmeister Markus Melchiori.