Geistliche Chormusik


Geistliche Chormusik is a collection of motets on German texts for choir by Heinrich Schütz. It was printed in Dresden in 1648 as his Opus Undecimum, and comprises 29 individual settings for five to seven voices, which were assigned numbers 369 to 397 in the Schütz-Werke-Verzeichnis. The original title was 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 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: 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....
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", 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
1Es wird das Scepter von Juda nicht entwendet werdenThe scepter shall not pass from Judah
2SWV 370Er wird sein Kleid in Wein waschenHe will wash his garment in wine
3SWV 371Es ist erschienen die heilsame Gnade Gottes allen MenschenThe grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men
4SWV 372Verleih uns Frieden genädiglichGrant us peace graciouslyby Martin Luther and Johann Walter
5SWV 373Give our rulers and all lawgiverscontinued
6SWV 374Unser keiner lebet ihm selberFor none of us liveth to himself
7SWV 375Viel werden kommen von Morgen und von AbendMany shall come from the east and west
8SWV 376Sammelt zuvor das UnkrautFirst of all collect the chaff
9SWV 377Herr, auf dich traue ichLord, I trust in You
10SWV 378Die mit Tränen säen werden mit Freuden erntenThey who sow with tears will reap with joy
11SWV 379So fahr ich hin zu Jesu ChristThus I journey to Jesus Christfrom Nicolaus Hermann's "Wenn mein Stündlein vorhanden ist"
12SWV 380Also hat Gott die Welt geliebtFor God so loved the world
13SWV 381O lieber Herre GottO dear Lord GodAdvent hymn
14SWV 382Tröstet, tröstet mein VolkComfort ye, comfort ye my people
15SWV 383Ich bin eine rufende StimmeI am a voice crying
16SWV 384Ein Kind ist uns geborenA child is born to us
17SWV 385Das Wort ward FleischThe Word was made flesh
18SWV 386Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre GottesThe heavens describe the glory of God and doxology
19SWV 387Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, o HerrI love you tenderly, o Lord."Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, o Herr"
20SWV 388Das ist je gewißlich wahrThis is a faithful saying
21SWV 389Ich bin ein rechter WeinstockI am the true vine
22SWV 390Unser Wandel ist im HimmelFor our pilgrimage is to heaven
23SWV 391Selig sind die TotenBlessed are the deadSelig sind die Toten
24SWV 392Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeitWhat my God wills always occursAlbrecht von Brandenburg's "Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit"
25SWV 393Ich weiß, daß mein Erlöser lebtI know that my Redeemer lives
26SWV 394Sehet an den FeigenbaumBehold the fig-tree and every tree
27SWV 395Der Engel sprach zu den HirtenThe angel said to the shepherds:,, arrangement of Andrea Gabrieli
28SWV 396Auf dem Gebirge hat man ein Geschrei gehöretUpon the peaks a cry is heard
29SWV 397Du SchalksknechtYou 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 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 Heinrich-Schütz-Archiv of the 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, among others.