Composer of the Week
Composer of the Week
BBC Radio 3
Heinrich Schütz
56 minutes Posted Dec 28, 2018 at 5:00 am.
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Show notes

Donald Macleod journeys through Christmas week in the company of Heinrich Schütz.

Donald begins by dipping a toe into the fertile archival territory of Schütz’s own writings, a fascinating window onto the life of the composer. Then we’re to the Striezelmarkt for a pastry and a glass of Glühwein, with a look at Christmas in 17th-century Dresden. Onwards to Venice, where Schütz studies with Gabrieli and hobnobs with Monteverdi. Next, things turn serious, as Schütz is swept up in the convulsions of the 30 Years’ War and its impact is felt on musical life. Finally, Donald looks at the great music of Schütz’s final years, his attempts to retire – and eventually bids farewell with his Schwanengesang.

Music featured:

Cantate Domino canticum novum, SWV 281
O quam tu pulchra es, SWV 265
Wie sehr lieblich und schöne sind doch die Wohnung dein, SWV 181
Habe deine Lust an dem Herren, SWV 311
Concert in Form einer teutschen Begräbnis-Missa, SWV 279
Gedenke deinem Knechte an dein Wort, SWV 485
Hodie Christus natus est, SWV 456
Warum toben die Heiden, SWV 23
Ein Kind ist uns geboren, SWV 302
Verbum caro factum est, SWV 314
The Christmas Story, SWV 435
Jubilate Deo in chordis et organo, SWV 276
Ride la primavera, SWV 7
Di marmo siete voi, SWV 17
Vasto mar, nel cui seno, SWV 19
Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren, SWV 41
Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen, SWV 29
Ich danke dem Herrn von ganzem Herzen, SWV 34
Fili mi, Absalon, SWV 269
In te, Domine, speravi, SWV 259
Es steh Gott auf, SWV 356
‘O, Herr, hilf’, SWV 402
Syncharma musicum, SWV 49
Da pacem, Domine’, SWV 465
Veni, Sancte Spiritus, SWV 328
O süsser, o freundlicher Herr Jesu Christ, SWV 285
Erhöre mich, wenn ich dich rufe, SWV 289
Ist Gott für uns, SWV 329
Ich bin eine rufende Stimme, SWV 383
Verleih uns Frieden genädiglich, SWV 372
Das Wort ward Fleisch, SWV 385
Das ist je gewisslich wah, SWV 388
Danket dem Herren, denn er ist freundlich, SWV 45
Auf dem Gebirge, SWV 396
Feget den alten Sauerteig aus, SWV 404
Saul, Saul, was verfolgst du mich? SWV 415
Komm, heiliger Geist SWV 417
Ich danke dem Herrn von ganzem Herzen, SWV 424
Jauchzet dem Herren, alle Welt (Psalm 100), SWV 493
St Matthew Passion, SWV 479
Mein Seele erhebt den Herren, SWV 494

Presenter: Donald Macleod

Producer: Chris Barstow for BBC Wales

For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Heinrich Schütz: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0001qgh

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z