Born: c1563 - Hahnbach, near Amberg, Upper Palatinate
Died: January 6, 1602 - Heidelberg, Germany

Andreas Raselius [Raesel] was a Kantor, pastor, teacher, composer, theorist, and scholar. He he studied in Heidelberg and eventually assumed the position of teacher there. In 1584, he left Heidelberg for religious reasons, having already earned his Master’s degree. He then worked as Kantor in Regensburg until the Prince-Elector of the Palatinate Friedrich IV called him back to Heidelberg as a Kapellmeister in 1600.

Raselius espoused the cause first proposed by Lucas Osiander in 1586 to compose simple chorale settings that the congregation could sing. He composed a set of motets based on texts from the gospels covering the whole year, like some of his contemporaries, such as, for example, Melchior Franck. Like Franck, he likes to expressively contrast homophonic and polyphonic textures, often in a manner that shows his knowledge of the Venetian polychoral techniques and his mastery of them. He always paid attention to the text and its emotional implications, and it is clear from his musical setting and the relationship between words and music in his composition that he was always very careful that the words come through clearly.

Source: San Franciscxo Vach Choir Website
Contributed by Thomas Braatz (December 2005), Aryeh Oron (December 2005)

Use of Chorale Melodies in his works

Title

Chorale Melody

Year

Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schar, Chorale Motet for 5 voices

Ein Kind geborn zu Bethlehem (Puer natus in Bethlehem)

Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ for 5 voices

Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ

1610

Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, 2 settings for voices, 4-pt and 5-pt.

Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland

Links to other Sites

San Francisco Bach Choir: Andreas Raselius

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