Little is known about the youth and music education of Johann Baal (1657-1701). Sources mention him for the first time when he was appointed organist and composer at the age of twenty at the court of Bamberg. In 1685 he left this post and entered the Benedictine monastery of Münsterschwarzach. Although Baal must have composed a lot, much of the material has been lost, probably because his stay in
… the monastery resulted in his works not being published. A handwritten copy of the "Missa in A" has been preserved. This copy was made by Johann Sebastian Bach (kyrie) and Johann Gottfried Walther (gloria, credo, sanctus, agnus dei). The Mass is written for four solo voices (SATB), two violins, two violas and bassoon. The instruments play the same motifs as the singers and also prepare the text fragments in this way. Baal regularly uses smaller combinations of voice and accompaniment, and two- and three-part time signatures alternate. Both elements serve as text interpretation. The "solo motets" are based on spiritual poetry and written for solo voice and basso continuo. They are virtuoso in style and follow the example of Schütz's "Geistliche Konzerte". The "solo motets" and the "Missa in A" have been recorded on CD by Johanna Koslowsky, David Cordier, Wilfried Jochens and Mensa Sonora Freiburg, among others. (LW) _ Both elements serve as text interpretation. The "solo motets" are based on spiritual poetry and written for solo voice and basso continuo. They are virtuoso in style and follow the example of Schütz's "Geistliche Konzerte". The "solo motets" and the "Missa in A" have been recorded on CD by Johanna Koslowsky, David Cordier, Wilfried Jochens and Mensa Sonora Freiburg, among others. (LW) _ Both elements serve as text interpretation. The "solo motets" are based on spiritual poetry and written for solo voice and basso continuo. They are virtuoso in style and follow the example of Schütz's "Geistliche Konzerte". The "solo motets" and the "Missa in A" have been recorded on CD by Johanna Koslowsky, David Cordier, Wilfried Jochens and Mensa Sonora Freiburg, among others. (LW) _more
