Christoph Strauss
Encyclopedia
Christoph Strauss was an Austrian composer
, cantor
and organist
. His church music includes polyphonic pieces and polychoral Masses
, including a notable Requiem
for high and low choirs. Although his textures were, by current standards, old-fashioned at the time, his word painting
proves his acquaintance with the newest Italian music.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, cantor
Cantor (church)
A cantor is the chief singer employed in a church with responsibilities for the ecclesiastical choir; also called the precentor....
and organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
. His church music includes polyphonic pieces and polychoral Masses
Mass (music)
The Mass, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharistic liturgy to music...
, including a notable Requiem
Requiem
A Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead or Mass of the dead , is a Mass celebrated for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons, using a particular form of the Roman Missal...
for high and low choirs. Although his textures were, by current standards, old-fashioned at the time, his word painting
Word painting
Word painting is the musical technique of writing music that reflects the literal meaning of a song. For example, ascending scales would accompany lyrics about going up; slow, dark music would accompany lyrics about death.Tone painting of words goes at least as far back as Gregorian chant...
proves his acquaintance with the newest Italian music.