Two settings of Innsbruck ich muss dich lassen - H. Isaac (c.1450-1517); C. Hollander (c. 1512-69)

While some ascribe the melody to Isaac, others identify it as a folk melody he transcribed. The melody certainly had legs in German culture, working its way into the sacred canon by becoming the chorale setting for the Passion text Oh world, I now must leave you. We present two versions: the first a hymn-like homophonic setting by Heinrich Isaac, and the second a Renaissance motet. The latter version is characteristic of its style; Hollander treats each line of the chorale polyphonically, such that the individual vocal parts form chords through the interaction of their imitative lines. Innsbruck, ich muß dich lassen, Innsbruck, I must leave you, ich fahr dahin mein Straßen I am going on my way in fremde Land dahin. into a foreign land. Mein Freud is mir genommen; My joy is taken from me; die ich nit weiß bekommen I don’t know how to regain it [die ich nicht weiß zu bekommen] wo ich [Herzlieb] im Elend bin. while I am in such misery