This book investigates the stylistic development and cultural context of North German church music during the late seventeenth century, specifically focusing on the era of Dietrich Buxtehude. Geoffrey Webber, a scholar of historical performance practice, utilizes a combination of archival research and musical analysis to argue that the North German tradition was significantly shaped by both local liturgical requirements and the increasing influence of Italian compositional techniques. The text provides a framework for understanding how these composers balanced traditional Lutheran practices with emerging baroque aesthetics.

Experts highlight this work as a foundational text for understanding the specific regional nuances of the North German baroque. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a rigorous resource for musicologists and performers alike.