Alongside his creativity as a ‘Poet-Musician’, Peter Cornelius was a devout Christian who wrote church music throughout his life. His groundbreaking sacred songs include strokes of genius such as the Vater unser or Lord’s Prayer cycle, which adapts plainsong chant into a deeply personal musical language.

The Marienlieder mix sacred and erotic vocabulary, combining the lyrical inwardness and more passionate tones also reflected in the Ave Maria. Unusual for their numerous revisions, the Weihnachtslieder are successful contributions to the Christmas music of Cornelius’s time.

This is the last of a four-volume edition of Peter Cornelius’s complete songs.