Christine Braun

Der Michael Müller Verlag ist ein Verlag für Reiseführer, die sich an Individualreisende richten. Gegründet wurde er 1979 vom Autor und Verleger Michael Müller (* 1953) in Ebermannstadt, seit 1989 ist der Verlag in Erlangen ansässig. Der Verlag ist bei Reiseführern die Nummer zwei in Deutschland.

With a disc entitled Stabat Mater and featuring Pergolesi among the composers, it would be natural to expect his setting of this heartfelt meditation on the grief of the Virgin Mary to be included in the programme. Well, it isn’t – and it is! Only a few years after Pergolesi in 1736 had composed his Stabat Mater, JS Bach made an adaptation of it using a contemporary German version of the biblical Psalm 51. To suit the requirements of the new text Bach made certain alterations to Pergolesi’s vocal parts, but retained the scheme of solo arias and duets between a soprano and an alto voice. He also added a new, independent viola part to the score and rewrote the basso continuo, giving the work a new harmonic vitality.