Die Beschäftigung mit Hermann Kretzschmars Kompositionen bereichert das Gesamtbild dieser musikschriftstellerisch und musikpolitisch wirkungsmächtigen Persönlichkeit. In dem Beitrag werden Kretzschmars Bearbeitungen für Männerchor und deren Bezug zu seinen Schriften untersucht; seine Originalkompositionen für dieselbe Besetzung werden mit Rücksicht auf die Leipziger Harmonielehre der Mitte des 19. Jahrhunderts betrachtet, seine Chorsätze für gemischten Chor dienen als Dokument für Kretzschmars formale Ambitionen und für seine Arbeitsweise. Für die Geschichte der musiktheoretischen Unterweisung am Leipziger Konservatorium in der zweiten Hälfte des 19. Jahrhunderts kann Kretzschmars einseitig nur bestimmte Genres bedienendes Werk eine Quelle darstellen.

Since most historical composers of Western art music were European Christians (or resided in areas that were primarily populated by Christians), a vast majority of the sacred choral-orchestral repertoire is based on major figures and themes from the most prominent denominations, including Catholicism, Lutheranism, and Anglicanism. As a corollary this is also the case for analytical, pedagogical, and exegetical literature related to the topic. However, in the late nineteenth century some composers began to look to other faith traditions for inspiration, which resulted in compositions based on texts that are less-familiar to Western audience members and performers. Despite the fact that many of these pieces are innovative and well-written, few, if any, have entered the standard repertoire. Because of this they are under-represented in both performance and extant music literature. The purpose of this study is to examine three compositions from this marginalized category in order to produce a guide that provides salient information on the religious/cultural background and musical aspects of each work. This guide will serve as a resource for conductors to facilitate an understanding of and connection with the text, allow informed programming decisions, and promote approaches that are appropriate and respectful to the religious source material. The pieces selected for investigation are Gustav Holst's Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda, Op. 26: First Group, Lili Boulanger's Vielle Prière Bouddhique (Old Buddhist Prayer), and Robert Cundick's The Redeemer.