Francis Pott’s My song is love unknown sets all of Samuel Crossman’s famous verses but one (commonly omitted when the poem is sung metrically as a hymn). The music begins with offbeat repeated chords prompted—not inappropriately—by the opening to Richard Strauss’s tone poem  Death and transfiguration. In its early stages only trebles and altos are heard. The sequential flow of Crossman’s poem is soon disrupted with particular dramatic ends in mind. After a seemingly anxious harmonic distortion of the opening chords the word ‘crucify’ arises initially as a mere mutter from the lowervoices so timed as to afford assonance with other words in the upper parts and thus remain barely discernible as if only imagined. In due course however cries of ‘Hosanna’ find themselves on a collision course with a rising tide of ‘Crucify’ during which the ‘Hosanna’ faction gradually loses heart and sheep-like defects until a single treble voice—plaintively daring to repeat the ‘offending’ word—is swept aside by a murderous outcry. In due course ‘Crucify’ recurs as a further angry climax before the opening music returns this time expanding into an extended polyphonic final section for double choir and SATB soloists. The principal climax of the work subsides into a form of epilogue crowned sorrowfully by a treble soloist to whom the music in toto has by now presented many challenges. The anthem ends in the key and mood of its opening. The character of its demanding organ part reflects the possibility that it may one day be orchestrated.   My song is love unknown was composed in memory of Michael Renton a craftsman and largely self-taught ‘Renaissance’ man who was not only a member of the Winchester cathedral congregation but also the cathedral’s stonemason. He was beloved of many in the Cathedral community; a true and

The five-part motets Nos. 1-12-The Five-Part Motets Nos. 1-12 (SWV 369-380)Reflects the latest in musicological research based on the New Schutz Edition.Includes a detailed foreword (Eng/Ger) on performance practice by a Schutz expertInstrumental parts (Strings Winds) available in transpositions.In 1648 Heinrich Schutz published a collection of 29 motets with five to seven parts titled ?Geistliche Chor-Music? (Sacred Choir Music). Here the term ?Chor? (Choir) refers not only to a (large) Vocal ensemble but more generally to a group of musicians vocal or instrumental. As explained by Schutz in the foreword he published withthe collection all parts of the motets can be performed vocally and/or instrumentally.This practice common in Schutz?s time has been incorporated into Bärenreiter?s new publication. The edition includes the twelve five-part motets at original pitch with Basso Continuo. In addition instrumental parts for String and Wind instruments can be purchased. These parts which include the text serve to support and complement the choral sound ?colla parte?. To enable varying tone-colour possibilities instrumental parts are available in different transpositions.Of great significance is the detailed foreword on performance practice by Manfred Cordes.Manfred Cordes is a specialist for the music of the 16th and early 17th centuries. He works as professor for music theory counterpoint and ensemble and is also rector of the ?Hochschule für Künste Bremen?. He performs internationally as the director of the ensemble ?Weser-Renaissance Bremen?.