Joachim von Burck, also Joachim a Burgk or Joachim Moller (Burg, 1546-Mühlhausen, 24 May 1610) was a German composer, notable for an early German Passion setting. As Johann Sebastian Bach's predecessor at the church of St Blasius, he pioneered the musical life in post-Reformation Mühlhausen, bringing it to early fruition. Influenced by the tradition of Flemish polyphony and the Italian madrigal, he developed his own style, focusing on clarity of expression. Considering himself a servant to the word of God, he discovered the German language as the foundation of his work, pragmatically addressing the congregation: "for I have aimed to set the words to the music in a manner that almost each syllable has its own note and that the four parts sing the words simultaneously in order that the listener can hear the words clearly." Burck's compositions were widely disseminated and acclaimed for their suitability for common use.
References
- Walter Dietrich, Hubert Herkommer König David, biblische Schlüsselfigur und europäische Leitgestalt: 2003... - Page 644 "... nach dem Tod Luthers (1574) veröffentlichte Joachim a Burgk (Burck) (1546-1610) eine «Passion Jesu Christi,"
- Nouvelle revue du XVIe siècle Société française des seiziémistes - 1990 - Numéro 8 - Page 122 "Passions, Von Burck, Herold, Demantius. ERATO 2292 45463-2. L'ensemble vocal Sagittarius, dirigé par Michel Laplénie, a enregistré une partie du programme donné dans le cadre des «Pâques Musicales d'Aix-Les- Bains», le Vendredi ..."
- Howard E. Smither A History of the Oratorio: Vol. 2: The Oratorio in the Baroque 1977 Page 8 "... of the Passion and Suffering of Our One Redeemer and Savior Jesus Christ," 1594). :1 Other through-composed historiae are those by Joachim a Burck (1568),11 Johann Steurlin (1576), Johann Machold (1593), Johannes Herold (1594), 13 and Christoph Demantius (1631)..."
- A Pioneer's Passion, in: Vienna Vocal Consort PASSION, klanglogo KL1403 (booklet)
- Radecke, Thomas: 450 - Meister Joachim, Festschrift, Burg und Mühlhausen 1996
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