Johann Daniel Pucklitz, who in the 18th-century in Gdańsk broke the musical monopoly of Johann Balthasar Christian Freisslich, the kappelmeister at the local St Mary’s Church, is a mysterious figure. Apart from his original compositions, few documents recording his biography have survived. His Oratorio on the Very Different Lives and Deaths of the Godless and the God-fearing, also known as Oratorio Secondo, will be performed by excellent soloists, the Goldberg Vocal Ensemble, Goldberg Baroque Ensemble, and GlassDuo. The musicians will be led by an expert on the musical life of Gdańsk, Andrzej Szadejko. 

The facts of the composer’s life are not well known, but we know quite a lot about the premiere performance of the work. Although Pucklitz created an extensive piece involving many performers, it was first presented in... the private home of his friend, the city musician Johann Carl Braunitz. The announcement of the daily performances of the new oratorio planned there for two weeks appeared magazine Danziger Erfahrungen (Gdańsk News) in December 1747. At that time, it was the composer’s task to distribute the tickets! 

Although in its essence Baroque, the monumental work of the Gdańsk artist contains clear elements of the early Classical style. The first movement of the piece presents the sinful nature of humans – a vision of souls rejecting God and thus bringing damnation upon themselves. The second movement, which mirrors the previous one, is also themed around death, but it is a joyful image, in which the end is awaited by those who trust the Creator and obey His laws. The whole is full of unexpected dramatic turns, but also diverse, non-obvious artistic solutions. What is noteworthy is the extensive and original line-up. The symbol of death here is a glass harp, the trumpet praises the Almighty in the rhythm of a polonaise, and the cymbalstern and David’s harp – associated with Christmas – are associated by Pucklitz with Parousia, or the second coming of Christ to the world at the end of history.