A musical farewell in bi-confessional early modern Austria. (11th October 2022) - Friesenegger, Dietmar
Abstract: Music of the Protestant Reformation continues to be of enduring interest to scholars and performers, and recent research has drawn attention to the complex bi-and tri-confessional landscape of German-speaking lands in the 16th and 17th centuries. However, the topic of music and Protestantism in early modern Austrian lands has remained little researched. This article examines the funeral motet for the nobleman Ludwig II von Polheim from 1608, in the context of printed Lutheran funeral sermons and the anti-Catholic propaganda of the large-scale fresco at Parz Castle in Upper Austria. A close reading of the motet suggests music's key role in the expression of religious doctrine, the negotiation of denominational identity, and the battle for souls in bi-confessional early modern Austria.