Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672): Kleine Geistliche Konzerte & Symphoniae Sacrae

KLEINE GEISTLICHE KONZERTE

00:00 Ich gab mein Sach Gott heimgestellt
for 2 sopranos, alto, tenor, bass, 5-part a cappella choir & basso continuo
words: Johann Leon (c.1530-1597)
arr: 16th century / Frankfurt M. 1589
ed. Wilhelm Ehmann

12:24 Ist Gott für uns
for soprano, alto, tenor, bass & basso continuo
words: Rom. 8: 31-34
ed. Wilhelm Ehmann

15:51 Wer will uns scheiden
for soprano, alto, tenor, bass & basso continuo
words: Rom. 8: 35, 38, 39
ed. Wilhelm Ehmann

19:38 Die Seele Christi heilige mich
for alto, tenor, bass & basso continuo
words: 14th century
ed. Wilhelm Ehmann

25:13 Ihr Heiligen lobsinget dem Herrn
for soprano, alto & basso continuo
words: Psalm 30: 5-6
ed. Wilhelm Ehmann

28:13 Himmel und Erde vergehen
for 3 basses & basso continuo
words: Luke 21: 33
ed. Wilhelm Ehmann

30:11 Ich liege und schlafe
for bass & basso continuo
words: Psalm 3: 6-9
ed. Wilhelm Ehmann

34:02 Meister, wir haben die ganze Nacht gearbeitet
for tenor, bass & basso continuo
words: Luke 5: 5
ed. Hans Hoffmann


SYMPHONIAE SACRAE

36:03 Jubilate Deo omnis terra (Jauchzet dem Herrn, alle Völker)
for bass, 2 recorders & basso continuo
words: Psalm 100
ed. Rudolf Gerber

42:19 Hütet euch
for bass, 2 violins & basso continuo
words: Luke 21: 34-36
ed. Hans Hoffmann

48:24 O quam tu pulchra es (Siehe du bist schön)
for tenor, baritone, 2 violins & basso continuo
words: Song of Sg. 4: 1-7
ed. Rudolf Gerber

52:38 Veni de Libano (Komm mit mir vom Libanon)
for tenor, baritone, 2 violins & basso continuo
words: Song of Sg. 4: 8-10
ed. Rudolf Gerber


Herta Flebbe, Rotraud Pax: soprano
Frauke Haasemann: alto
Wilhelm Kaiser, Wilfried Kastrup, Helmut Krebs: tenor
Roland Kunz: baritone
Paul Gümmer, Johannes Kortendieck: bass
Rosemarie Lahrs, Ilse Grobbecker: Baroque violin
Siegfried Borries, Johannes Klapka: violin
Ferdinand Conrad, Hans Wilhelm Köneke: recorder
Arno Schönstedt: positive organ
Berthold Schwarz: organ
Barbara Brauckmann, Helma Bemmer: cello
Johannes Koch: gamba, contrabass gamba
Arnim Schulz, Georg Zschenker: double bass
Westfälische Kantorei
Wilhelm Ehmann, conductor

Art: Interior of a cathedral, by Dirck van Delen (c.1605-1671)


The ¨Kleinen geistlichen Konzerte¨ appeared in two parts, in Leipzig in 1636 and in Dresden in 1639. The complete collection comprises fifty-five Concerti for 1—5 voices with continuo to both Latin and German texts. Heinrich Schütz pointed out in his Introduction that these short pieces stemmed directly from the severe shortages and great hardship of the Thirty Years’ War. Hence all obligati instruments are eschewed, the style is terse and the scale restricted and the interpretation of the texts used is marked by great emotional stress.

By way of text, Psalm-verses, passages from Gospels and Epistles, hymns and meditations are found in these Concerti. The style of the music combines the unrestrained and emotional outlook of the southern monodists and the oratorio with the austere textual emphasis of the northen polyphonists.

The ¨Kleinen geistlichen Konzerte¨ have ranked among the most popular of the Dresden Kapellmeister´s output from their earliest appearance and enjoyed a wide circulation in the composer’s own lifetime. Nowadays they are invaluable for the training of young singers, for inculcating a sure sense of style and for the revival of the art of the “soloist ensemble”. ¨Ich hab mein Sach Gott heimgestellt¨ is an example of the best work in the collection: notable are the interpolations (ad libitum) of the ¨a cappella¨ choir. Schütz composed this particular work upon the early death of his sister-in-law: the whole spirit of the text reflects Schütz’s reaction to this: it is a meditation on the transitoriness of mortal life and worthlessness of earthly joys compared with those of Heaven, and ends with a pious supplication for a happy death and reunion with God.

Cantate (CAN 11 10 / HMD 30.156)