Artist Info: Andreas Gryphius

Andreas Gryphius (1616–1664) was a central figure of the German Baroque whose work played an important role in early German musical drama. Although not a composer, Gryphius wrote dramatic texts that were explicitly intended for performance in settings where music, song, and declamation were integral.

His sacred dramas, especially Passion plays such as Olivetum, incorporate sung sections and were designed for musically informed performance within Lutheran school, courtly, and urban contexts. [read more...]