(Sacred choral music) is a collection of motets on German texts for choir by Heinrich Schütz, a German early Baroque composer and organist. It was printed in Dresden in 1648 as his (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 which indicates that Schütz planned a second part. It is also known as Geistliche Chor-Music 1648 and in modern German as . 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 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 described the work as examples of composition in counterpoint without basso continuo, following the model of his teacher Giovanni Gabrieli in stile antico, writing: (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. SWV Title English Source 1 The scepter shall not pass from Judah 2 SWV 370 He will wash his garment in wine 3 SWV 371 The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men 4 SWV 372 Grant us peace graciously by Martin Luther and Johann Walter 5 SWV 373 Give our rulers and all lawgivers continued 6 SWV 374 For none of us liveth to himself 7 SWV 375 Many shall come from the east and west 8 SWV 376 First of all collect the chaff 9 SWV 377 Lord, I trust in You 10 SWV 378 They who sow with tears will reap with joy 11 SWV 379 Thus I journey to Jesus Christ Anonymous 12 SWV 380 For God so loved the world John 3:16 13 SWV 381 O dear Lord God Advent hymn 14 SWV 382 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people 15 SWV 383 I am a voice crying 16 SWV 384 A child is born to us 17 SWV 385 The Word was made flesh 18 SWV 386 The heavens describe the glory of God and doxology 19 SWV 387 I love you tenderly, o Lord. "" 20 SWV 388 This is a faithful saying 21 SWV 389 I am the true vine 22 SWV 390 For our pilgrimage is to heaven 23 SWV 391 Blessed are the dead () 24 SWV 392 What my God wills always occurs Albrecht von Brandenburg's "" 25 SWV 393 I know that my Redeemer lives 26 SWV 394 Behold the fig-tree and every tree 27 SWV 395 The angel said to the shepherds: , , arrangement of Andrea Gabrieli 28 SWV 396 Upon the peaks a cry is heard 29 SWV 397 You wicked servant
Publication and recording
Geistliche Chor-Music 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 of the . 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.
References
External links
"Heinrich Schütz: Geistliche Chormusik 1648 – alle Motetten", scores, Thüringer Komponisten und Bearbeiter "Im Dienst des Wortes / Heinrich Schütz: Motetten aus der Geistlichen Chormusik op. 11" Südwestrundfunk