The iUniversity
Section Six
18th Century Sacred Choral Music
The 18th century was a golden age for European choral music, focusing on dramatic oratorios, expansive masses, and intense Passion music. Key developments included Handel’s dramatic English oratorios, J.S. Bach’s complex Lutheran sacred works, and Mozart’s refined liturgical music, reflecting a shift toward emotional expression and public, rather than just private, performance.
Composers with Recommendations
Germany
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Masses, cantatas, motets,
and passions
Georg-Friedrich Händel (1685–1759)
The Messiah and Chandos Anthems
Johann David Heinichen (1683–1729)
Sacred music
Georg Böhn (1661–1733)
Cantatas and St. John Passion
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710–1736)
Stabat Mater, Marian Vespers, and
Salve Regina in C minor
Johann Kuhnau (1660–1722)
Sacred music
Italy
Giacomo Antonio Perti (1661–1756)
Sacred music
Baldassare Galuppi (1706–1785)
Masses and liturgical works
Antonio Caldara (c. 1670–1736)
Masses and motets
Antonio Lotti (c. 1667–1740)
Masses, Miserere, psalms,
and motets
Francesco Durante (1684–1755)
Sacred music
Giuseppe Tartini (1692–1770)
Miserere, Stabat Mater,
and Salve Regina
France
Nicolas Bernier (1664-1734)
Grands motets and
Leçons de Ténèbres
Charles-Hubert Gervais (1671-1744)
Grands motets
Henri Hardouin (1727–1808)
Masses and sacred works
Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683–1764)
Only four major motets
are attributed to Rameau
with certainty.
André Campra (1660–1744)
Grands motets and masses
Austria
W. A. Mozart (1756-1791)
Vespers and masses
Czech Republic
Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679–1745)
Masses, vespers, and Holy Week music
František Xaver Brixi
Masses
Scores
MU-001 – 18th Century Sacred Music Volume 1 (284 pages)
Böhm, Händel, Pergolesi, and Tartini
MU-002 – 18th Century Sacred Music Volume 2 (264 pages)
Kuhnau, and Mozart
Sacred Music from Germany
MU-003 – Johann Sebastian Bach – Motets and Magnificat (276 pages)
MU-004 – Johann Sebastian Bach – Seven Cantatas (340 pages)
MU-005 – Johann Sebastian Bach – Luthern Masses (246 pages)
MU-006 – Johann Sebastian Bach – Mass in B minor (BWV 232) (325 pages)
MU-007 – Johann Sebastian Bach – St Matthew Passion (Matthäus-Passion), BWV 244 (300 pages)
MU-008 – Johann Sebastian Bach – St John Passion (Johannes-Passion), BWV 245 (276 pages)
MU-009 – Georg-Friedrich Händel – The Messiah (300 pages)
MU-010 – Johann David Heinichen – Sacred Music (274 pages)
MU-011 – Johann David Heinichen – Litanies and Magnificats (224 pages)
Sacred Music from Italy
MU-012 – Antonio Caldara – Sacred Music (270 pages)
MU-013 – Antonio Caldara – Masses (294 pages)
MU-014 – Antonio Lotti – Sacred Music (186 pages)
MU-015 – Francesco Durante – Sacred Music Volume 1 (228 pages)
MU-016 – Francesco Durante – Sacred Music Volume 2 (226 pages)
MU-017 – Baldassare Galuppi – Sacred Music Volume 1 (270 pages)
MU-018 – Baldassare Galuppi – Sacred Music Volume 2 (288 pages)
MU-019 – Baldassare Galuppi – Two Masses (266 pages)
MU-020 – Giacomo Antonio Perti – Sacred Music (300 pages)
Sacred Music from France
MU-021 – 18th Century French Sacred Music (252 pages)
Bernier, Gervais, and Hardouin
MU-022 – Jean-Philippe Rameau – Grands Motets (240 pages)
MU-023 – André Campra – Sacred Music (300 pages)
Sacred Music from Austria
MU-024 – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Messe in C moll K. 427 (214 pages)
Sacred Music from the Czech Republic
MU-025 – Jan Dismas Zelenka – Sacred Music Volume 1 (250 pages)
MU-026 – Jan Dismas Zelenka – Sacred Music Volume 2 (242 pages)
MU-027 – Jan Dismas Zelenka – Missa Dei Filii (212 pages)
MU-028 – Jan Dismas Zelenka – Missa Purificationis (236 pages)
MU-029 – Jan Dismas Zelenka – Missa dei Patris (375 pages)
MU-030 – František Xavier Brixi – Masses in Bb Major and E Minor (234 Pages)
Visit the “Great 18th Century Sacred Music” playlist on Musical Kaleidoscope YouTube – – >