Machet die Tore weit

Andreas Hammerschmidt was born 1611 or 1612 in Brlix, Bohemia. Little is know of his early life; however, there is record of his serving as organist to Count Rudolfvon Biinau at his castle in Weesenstein, Saxony, from 1633 to 1634. That position was followed by ones at the Peterskirche in Freiberg from 1634 to 1639 and at St. Johannis in Zit tau from 1639 until his death on November 8, 1675. One of the most celebrated musicians of his day, he wrote over 400 sacred choral and vocal works that were published in fourteen collections. Most of the chorale tunes used in the Lutheran service music were taken from his work.

“Machet die Tore weit” is based on a biblical text taken from Psalm 24:7,12 and is found in the collections of Advent and Weihnachten (Christmas) music for four to eight voices.

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