[1] His dedication for the book, to Frederick, Prince of Norway is dated August 22, 1662, in Rostock.
He knew it only in a 1758 French translation:[2] Michael Maieri Cantilenae Intelectuales de Phoenice Redivivo; ou Chansons Intelectuelles sur la resurection Du Phenix...traduites...par M.L.L.M.. "The title promises much- "Nine Triads of Intellectual Songs on the Resurrection of the Phoenix: or the most precious of all medicines, the Mirror and abridgement of this Universe, proposed less to the ear than to the mind, and presented to the wise as the key of the three impenetrable Secrets of Chemistry.
Each of the nine triads is expressed as harmonies of altus, tenor, and bass voices.
Maier tells us that the altus expresses "the dulcet tones of Venus"; the tenor is the sideward moving lobster or crayfish; and the bass is reserved for the lion.
Maier assigns distinct purposes to these voices: "The first of the quadrate triads treats of the names given divers things; the second contains Allegories; and in the third are to be found the application of the mysteries of this Art to those of Religion.