Geistliche Chormusik Explained

German: Geistliche Chormusik
Composer:Heinrich Schütz
Genre:Collections of motets
Catalogue:SWV 369 to 397
Opus:11
Dedication:Leipzig, its mayor, council and Thomanerchor
Language:German
Published: in Dresden
Vocal:5 to 7 voices

German: Geistliche Chormusik (Sacred choral music) is a collection of motets on German texts for choir by Heinrich Schütz. It was printed in Dresden in 1648 as his Latin: Opus Undecimum (Op. 11), and comprises 29 individual settings for five to seven voices, which were assigned numbers 369 to 397 in the Schütz-Werke-Verzeichnis (SWV). The original title was German: Geistliche Chor-Music, Erster Theil which indicates that Schütz planned a second part. It is also known as Geistliche Chor-Music 1648. The collection contains earlier and new works and a German arrangement of a motet by Andrea Gabrieli.

History

Schütz assembled a collection of 29 motets, which were assigned numbers 369 to 397 in the SWV, in 1648, the year that ended the Thirty Years' War. The original title was German: Geistliche Chor-Music, Erster Theil which indicates that Schütz planned at least a second part. The collection contains earlier and new works and a German arrangement of a motet by Andrea Gabrieli.

In an extended foreword, Schütz describes the work as examples of composition in counterpoint without basso continuo, following the model of his teacher Giovanni Gabrieli in stile antico, writing: German: Geistliche Chor-Music / Mit 5. 6. und 7. Stimmen / beydes Vocaliter und Instrumentaliter zugebrauchen / Auffgesetzet / Durch / Heinrich Schützen / ... Worbey der Bassus Generalis auff Gutachten und Begehren / nicht aber aus Nothwendigkeit / zugleich auch zu befinden ist ... (sacred choir music / with 5 6 and 7 voices / to be used both vocally and instrumentally / set / by / Heinrich Schützen / ... the general bass can be used at the same time if liked and wanted / but is not necessary).

Schütz dedicated the collection to Leipzig, addressing the mayor and the town council and mentioning especially the choir, known now as the Thomanerchor. The dedication, dated "Dreßden, am 21. April 1648", is his first not to court and nobility.

Collection

Schütz set mostly biblical texts, but also a few hymns. It contains "pleas for peace" such as "Verleih uns Frieden genädiglich" (Bestow peace upon us mercifully), which "react to the events of the day with more or less timeless, traditional texts". The first twelve motets are settings for five parts, the others for six or seven parts.

Translations are provided by Emmanuel Music, while the column "Source" offers the text of the King James Version of the Bible.

No.SWVTitleEnglishSource
1 German: Es wird das Scepter von Juda nicht entwendet werden The scepter shall not pass from Judah
2 SWV 370 German: Er wird sein Kleid in Wein waschen He will wash his garment in wine
3 SWV 371 German: Es ist erschienen die heilsame Gnade Gottes allen Menschen The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men
4 SWV 372 German: Verleih uns Frieden genädiglich Grant us peace graciously by Martin Luther and Johann Walter
5 SWV 373 German: {{ill|Gib unsern Fürsten, SWV 373|choralwiki|Gib unsern Fürsten, SWV 373 (Heinrich Schütz)|lt=Gib unsern Fürsten und aller Obrigkeit Give our rulers and all lawgivers continued
6 SWV 374 German: Unser keiner lebet ihm selber For none of us liveth to himself
7 SWV 375 German: Viel werden kommen von Morgen und von Abend Many shall come from the east and west
8 SWV 376 German: Sammelt zuvor das Unkraut First of all collect the chaff
9 SWV 377 German: Herr, auf dich traue ich Lord, I trust in You
10 SWV 378 German: Die mit Tränen säen werden mit Freuden ernten They who sow with tears will reap with joy
11 SWV 379 German: So fahr ich hin zu Jesu Christ Thus I journey to Jesus Christ Anonymous
12 SWV 380 German: Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt For God so loved the world
13 SWV 381 German: O lieber Herre Gott O dear Lord God Advent hymn
14 SWV 382 German: Tröstet, tröstet mein Volk Comfort ye, comfort ye my people
15 SWV 383 German: Ich bin eine rufende Stimme I am a voice crying
16 SWV 384 German: Ein Kind ist uns geboren A child is born to us
17 SWV 385 German: Das Wort ward Fleisch The Word was made flesh
18 SWV 386 German: Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes The heavens describe the glory of God and doxology
19 SWV 387 German: Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, o Herr I love you tenderly, o Lord. "German: [[Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, o Herr]]"
20 SWV 388 German: Das ist je gewißlich wahr This is a faithful saying
21 SWV 389 German: Ich bin ein rechter Weinstock I am the true vine
22 SWV 390 German: Unser Wandel ist im Himmel For our pilgrimage is to heaven
23 SWV 391 German: Selig sind die Toten Blessed are the dead German: [[Selig sind die Toten]]
24 SWV 392 German: Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit What my God wills always occurs Albrecht von Brandenburg's "German: Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit"
25 SWV 393 German: Ich weiß, daß mein Erlöser lebt I know that my Redeemer lives
26 SWV 394 German: Sehet an den Feigenbaum Behold the fig-tree and every tree
27 SWV 395 German: Der Engel sprach zu den Hirten The angel said to the shepherds: ,, arrangement of Andrea Gabrieli
28 SWV 396 German: Auf dem Gebirge hat man ein Geschrei gehöret Upon the peaks a cry is heard
29 SWV 397 German: Du Schalksknecht You wicked servant

Publication and recording

Geistliche Chormusik was first published in Dresden by Johann Klemm. It was published by Breitkopf & Härtel as part of the first complete publication of the composer's works, edited by Philipp Spitta, begun in 1885. It was published by Bärenreiter as part of the new critical edition Neue Schütz-Ausgabe. The five-part motets (No. 1–12) appeared in 2003, the others in 2006. The collection is part of the complete edition of the composer's works by Carus-Verlag, begun in 1992 as the Stuttgart Schütz Edition and planned to be completed by 2017. The edition uses the German: Heinrich-Schütz-Archiv of the German: [[Hochschule für Musik Dresden]]. They were recorded, as part of the complete recordings of works by Schütz, in 2008 by the Dresdner Kammerchor and the Cappella Sagittariana, conducted by Hans-Christoph Rademann.

The motets have been frequently recorded individually or in selections. As of 2014, nine complete recordings were performed, making it the most frequently recorded of the collections by Schütz. Rudolf Mauersberger conducted the Dresdner Kreuzchor in 1962–63. Heinz Hennig conducted in 1981 to 1984 the Knabenchor Hannover with instruments, performing some motets with solo voices, others chorally, some with alternatives. Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden led a recording with the Tölzer Knabenchor in 1998, followed by Martin Behrmann, Manfred Cordes, Wilhelm Ehmann, Matteo Messori, Craig Smith and Masaaki Suzuki, Hans-Christoph Rademann among others.

External links