Russel Martineau

“ It is an interesting instance of a Volkslied of one country becoming domesticated in the same capacity in another, and also of the extraordinary transformation which the song may undergo in the process. A very loose imitation of the words of this song, beginning 'Schöne Minka ich muss scheiden,' was published by the German poet Ch. A. Tiedge in 1808, and this, with the melody much altered, is now to be found in most collections of German Volkslieder without notice of the Slavonic source. ”

“ He is addicted to the old style in the use of the major and minor chords close together, even the dominant having often the minor third, and in the employment of chords without thirds. He uses syncopation so freely that it is often difficult to decide whether triple or quadruple rhythm is intended. ”

“ In the free use of the first inversion of the common chord he is rather in advance of his age. His chief works are 'Cantiones Sacrae cum 6, 7, 8 vocibus,' Jena, 1602; 'Cantiones Sacrae 5, 6, et 8 vocum,' 2 pts., Jena, 1603–4; 'Kirchengesänge und geistliche Lieder D. Lutheri und Anderer mit 4 und 5 Stimmen,' Leipzig, 1604, of which the second enlarged edition bears the title 'Ein schön geistlich Gesangbuch,' Jena, 1609, and has the melody in the discant, whereas most of his settings have it in the tenor; 'Canticum B. V. Mariae 4, 5, 6 et pluribus vocibus,' Jena 1605 ”