Martin Luther described himself as an “insignificant and ungifted tenor”. Schooled in the artes liberales of his time, he had a command of music theory and composition, was a skilled lutenist, and had such a gifted voice that Hans Sachs termed him the “Wittenberg Nightingale”. Whether at table or in the liturgy, music belonged to his life and his faith. CPO have set out on a musical journey with top soloists, the Bach Choir of Siegen, and the Johann Rosenmüller Ensemble, all under the renowned music director Ulrich Stötzel, on a collection of recordings for the Luther Year 2017. This CD features works by Luther’s friends and contemporaneous composers; Werner Fabricius, Hans Neusiedler, Thomas Stoltzer, Heinrich Schütz, Johann Eccard, Michael Praetorius, Johann Sebastian Bach, and others. The four-part cantus firmus motet based on Psalm 118:17 is even by Luther himself.