During his middle creative period, Karg-Elert developed his own, unmistakable choral style. His few choral works, which stem from the years 1912 and 1913, unquestionably belong to his major works from this period. Oliver Hilmes's four new editions of Karg-Elert's most substantial choral works are being published with the same consistency and compactness shown by Karg-Elert when he wrote them in 1912/13. The reception of Karg-Elert's works, which has been quite strong in the organ domain, now obtains decisive impulses in a new direction. Joining the previously published choral canzonas "Benedictus" Op. 82 No. 1 and "Vom Himmel hoch" Op. 82 No. 2 are "Näher, mein Gott, zu dir" Op. 81 and the Passion Canzona Op. 84. Particularly charming is the unique instrumental color with which Karg-Elert sensitively enhances the choral sound in each work of this little group. „Die eminent wichtige Neuausgabe der Choralkanzonen wird hoffentlich diesen grandiosen Kompositionen Karg-Elerts endlich die Stellung zukommen lassen, die sie im Bereich von Musik in der Kirche eigentlich seit ihrer Entstehung verdient hätten." (Jörg Stodthoff, Forum Kichenmusik)