The Songs of Elgers. 17th century Latvian sacred music

Musica Baltica, in collaboration with the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music and the Latvian State Culture Capital Foundation, has released a new publication: Songs of Elgers. 17th Century Latvian Sacred Music, a CD album and book, which offers Latvian and international audiences a piece of unique Latvian music history which has been undiscovered until now. The 15 songs, recorded by the Fabella Ensemble, are from the 1621 songbook Geistliche Catholische Gesänge by clergyman and Jesuit of Latvian origin Georgs Elgers, which is marking its 400th anniversary this year.

The book includes writings by Māra Grudule, a literature researcher and professor at the University of Latvia, and professor Guntars Prānis, a musicologist and early music researcher, on Georgs Elgers and the first Latvian Catholic song book, as well as facsimile excerpts, transcriptions of the song texts, and English translations.