Schütz: Musikalische Exequien (1635)

Schütz: Musikalische Exequien

La Chapelle Royale - Philippe Herreweghe
Harmonia Mundi 901261
Harmonia Mundi "Anniversary Edition" 941261
Harmonia Mundi "Edition Herreweghe" 2981261
Harmonia Mundi "hmGold" 501261

Contents:

Musikalische exequien Op.7, SWV279-281

1. I Concert in Form einer teutschen Begräbnis-Messe (25:59)
2. II Motette "Herr, wenn ich nur Dich habe (3:39)
3. III Canticum B.Simeonis "Herr, nun lässest Du Deinen Diener (4:55)
4. Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt (Geistliche Chormusik-SWV380) (3:04)
5. Selig sind die Toten (Geistliche Chormusik-SWV391) (4:21)
6. So fahr ich hin zu Jesu Christ (Geistliche Chormusik-SWV379) (3:13)
7. Ich bin die Auferstehung (Kleine Geistliche KonzerteII-SWV324) (4:02)
8. O lieber Herre Gott (Kleine Geistliche KonzerteI-SWV287) (3:35)
9. Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes (Geistliche Chormusik-SWV386) (5:01)

Playing time: 58:52

Recording date: January 1987

During his long life Heinrich Schütz produced many pieces of music which introduced new techniques and idioms into Germany, while promoting the use of the German language as a medium for music of all sorts. As such he was one of the first composers and he exerted considerable influence over later generations. He did most of this as Kapellmeister to the Elector of Saxony in Dresden. Approximately 500 pieces by Schütz survive, though many more are known to be lost; they are overwhelmingly sacred in character and were mainly published in a number of large collections, of which some of the main ones are the Madrigals (1611), Psalms of David (1619), Cantiones Sacrae (1625), Symphoniæ Sacæ I, II and III (1629, 1647 and 1650), Kleine Geistliche Konzerte I and II (1636 and 1638) and the Geistliche Chormusik (1648).

During two stays in Venice (1609-13 and 1629) Schütz absorbed many of the developments taking place in Italy, which he put to use subsequently in his works. For example the Psalms of David started his polychoral settings of (predominantly) psalms, while the Cantiones Sacrae and Symphoniæ Sacæ illustrate his successive adaptations of the monodic style to German needs. In contrast to these the Geistliche Chormusik contains 29 German polyphonic motets in a more traditional idiom. During the thirty years' war (1618-1648), Schütz' circumstances worsened dramatically particularly after 1630, which led to him travelling to a number of other courts as well as Denmark. During these years he wrote pieces for reduced forces, reflecting hard times, published in the Kleine Geistliche Konzerte I and II and Symphoniæ Sacæ II. After the end of the war he repeatedly petitioned for retirement, which was granted eventually. Of miscellaneous later works, the three passions (St John, Luke and Matthew) and the Christmas story were notable. Schütz made little use of chorales in his compositions, and no instrumental music by him survives. Of some dramatic works known to have been written, none survive.

Vocal Soloists: Agnès Mellon, Greta de Reyghere, Monique Zanetti - Soprano; Howard Crook - Alto; Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, Hervé Lamy - Tenor; Renaud Machart, Peter Kooy, Peter Lika - Bass; Continuo: Ageet Zweistra - Cello; Jonathan Cable - Violone; Jan Willem Jansen - Positive Organ; Konrad Junghänel - Theorbo; La Chapelle Royale directed by Philippe Herreweghe.

Other recordings of the Musikalische Exequien, composed for the funeral of Prince Heinrich Posthumus of Reuss:

Schütz: Requiem / Musikalische Exequien / Motets

Akademia - Françoise Lasserre / La Fenice - Jean Tubéry
Pierre Vérany 799011

Schütz: Musikalische Exequien / Motets

English Baroque Soloists / Monteverdi Choir - John Eliot Gardiner
Archiv 423 405

Schütz: Musikalische Exequien / Magnificat

The Sixteen - Harry Christophers
Coro 16036

Some other recordings devoted to Schütz' choral music:

A Christmas Collection

Music of Heinrich Schütz and Giovanni Gabrieli
The Choir and Orchestra of The Academy of Ancient Music - Paul Goodwin
Harmonia Mundi USA 907202

Schütz: Geistliche Chormusik (1648)

Collegium Vocale - Philippe Herreweghe
Harmonia Mundi 901534

Schütz: Opus ultimum - Schwanengesang

Concerto Palatino / Collegium Vocale Gent - Philippe Herreweghe
Harmonia Mundi 901895

Schütz: Cantiones Sacrae

Weser-Renaissance - Manfred Cordes
CPO 999 405 (2 CDs)

Schütz: Kleine geistliche Konzerte

Concerto Vocale - René Jacobs
Harmonia Mundi 901097

Schütz: Cantiones Sacrae

Vocal Ensemble Currende / Concerto Palatino - Erik Van Nevel
Accent 9174

Schütz: Sacred Choral Music 1648

Kanbenchor Hanover / Ein Instrumental Ensemble - Heinz Hennig
Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 77171 (2 CDs)

Schütz: Psalmen, Motetten, Konzerte

Cantus Cölln / Musica Fiata / Knabenchor Hannover - Konrad Junghänel
Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 77175 (2 CDs)

Schütz: Schwanengesang - Opus Ultimum

Hilliard Ensemble - Paul Hillier
Virgin Edition 61306 (2 CDs)

Schütz: Symphoniae Sacrae I, 1629

Concerto Palatino
Accent 9178/79 (2 CDs)

Schütz: Kleine Geistliche Konzerte, Volume 1

New York Baroque - Eric Milnes
PGM Records 109

Schütz: Lamenti & Concerti

Musicalische Compagney
MD+G 3100230

Schütz: Histoire de la Résurrection / Motets

Akadémia - Françoise Lasserre
Zig-Zag Territoires 030101

Music of Heinrich Schütz

Monday Evening Concerts of Los Angeles
Columbia ML 5411 (LP)

Schütz: Zwölf geistliche Gesänge

Dresdener Kammerchor - Hans-Christoph Rademann
Carus 83.239

A major recording devoted to Schütz' most important German contemporary, Johann Hermann Schein (1586-1630):

Schein: Israels Brünnlein / Opella Nova II

Cantus Cölln - Konrad Junghänel
Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 77359

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