After the 1600s

After the 1600s

After the 1600s the a cappella all but disappeared. The style of this music was fading, as orchestral work took the place and importance of religious doctrine. The reformation of Luther meant people could pray directly to their God, and not require the strict code of confession, mass and ultimately the music that went with it. A small number of committed musicians tried to expand the Mass, the most successful of these men was Bach. He made the usual five segments of the mass (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei) into 24 different sections in his Mass in B minor. [AW] {NR}