“Vesper Arias” of the Transylvanian author Johann Sartorius junior (1712–1787), dedicated to the Christmas holidays

Abstract

A great part of German sacred music is dedicated to the holidays in the liturgical year of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Augsburg Confession. After the Reform by Johannes Honterus in the first half of the 16th century, the Transylvanian Saxons took over the religious and musical principles of Martin Luther. Thus, re-organizing the religious divine service and translating the Bible into the congregation’s native language was accompanied by solid musical education and by ensuring that vocal-instrumental music had a permanent role within the cult. The ”70 arias for Sundays and holidays in the liturgical year for treble voice, 2 violins and basso continuo” by Johann Sartorius junior originate in the Transylvanian church music practice in the second half of the 18th and the 19th centuries, respectively the custom of solo singing within the Vesper divine services on Sundays and holidays.