Pachelbel composed at least 11 imaginatively multifaceted concertato treatments of the Magnificat. These two fine settings probably date from his final decade as town organist in Nuremberg (1695-1706). Recorded in St Georg, Markt Nordheim, Himlische Cantorey’s five vastly experienced singers (including director and tenor Jan Kobow), two violins and a theorbo are assembled up in the small gallery around the church’s restored late 18th-century organ; two oboes and a bassoon are placed in an adjacent gallery and a consort of violas da gamba and violone is positioned nearby in a semicircle on the floor. All vocal and instrumental participants are equally adept as soloists and within the full ensemble. The Magnificat in C (PWV1503) has meticulously plotted mixtures of voice types and instrumental combinations, such as ‘Et misericordia eius’ for bass with oboes, ‘Deposuit potentes’ for soprano with athletic bassoon (played superbly by Adrian Rovatkay), ‘Esurientes implevit bonis’ for alto David Erler with an equally sweet pair of concertante violins, and, unusually, two interrupting instrumental movements. The Magnificat in B flat (PWV1514) has a sincere duet for sopranos answered by oboes (‘Et exsultavit spiritus meus’) and a tenor solo with exquisite six-part violins and viols (‘Et misericordia eius’), while ‘Gloria Patri et Filio’ has close imitation between Kobow’s agile tenor and obbligato organ played with pinpoint precision and adept registrations by Johannes Weiss.

In between the bookending canticles, Pachelbel’s meritorious versatility and inventiveness are confirmed by Deus in adiutorium for five voices, four viols, bassoon and organ (its ‘Alleluia’ finale enhanced by the organist’s tinkling carillon stop), and two solo motets on German texts: Mein Fleisch ist die rechte Speise is a penitential partnership between soprano Veronika Winter and Veronika Skuplik’s violino piccolo (using scordatura tuning) and Ach Herr, wie ist meiner Feinde so viel is packed with vividly immersive contrasts delivered ardently by violinist Skuplik and bass Joel Frederikson.