A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Vulpius, Melchior

VULPIUS, Melchior, born at Wasingen, in the Henneberg territory, about 1560, became cantor at Weimar in 1600, and held this position till his death in 1616. He composed some chorales, notably 'Jesu Leiden, Pein und Tod,' 'Christus der ist mein Leben,' and 'Weltlich Ehr und zeitlich Gut,' the melodies of which are bold and charming; but accomplished much more in harmonizing tunes for many voices, in which he shows himself a sound contrapuntist. 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. His contrapuntal skill is exhibited in love of notes suspended as discords and afterwards resolved. 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; 'Opusculum novum,' 1610; and a Passion oratorio from the four Gospels, in which the narrator has a tenor voice.

[ R. M. ]