Schutz: Musikalische Exequien (Motetten Und Konzerte/Motets & Concertos) [Import]

John Eliot Gardiner (Artist), Monteverdi Choir (Artist), English Bar (Artist), Heinrich Schutz (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Heinrich Schutz
• Audio CD (December 26, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Polygram Int'l
• ASIN: B0000057D7
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #162,909 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Freue Dich Des Weibes Deiner Jugend

2. Ist Nict Ephraim Mein Teurer Sohr

3. Saul, Saul Was Verfolgst Du Mich?

4. Auf Dem Gebirge Hat Man Ein Geschrei Gehoret

5. Concerto In Form Einer Teutschen Begrabnis-Missa

6. Motette>>Herr, Wenn Ich Nur Dich Habe<<

7. Canticum Simeonis

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Radiant, February 27, 2005

By 

Caterina Sforza (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Schutz: Musikalische Exequien (Motetten Und Konzerte/Motets & Concertos) (Audio CD)

Doesn't look promising, does it? Early German Baroque, a meditation on death, mostly a capella, some continuo. Pretty austere. But this is some of the most passionate religious music ever composed, prompted by some of the most richly consoling texts-- In his German Requiem, 200 years later, Brahms paid tribute to Schütz's work in setting "Selig sind die Toten (Blessed are the dead")

Schütz never lets limited resources limit his invention or blunt his emotion-- this is a perfect coexistence of restrained dignity and an almost ecstatic spirituality. His magic includes divided choirs crying "Erbarm' dich!" --have mercy-- back and forth, unexpected hemiola dance rhythms (in a Requiem!) and a Monteverdian drama blended into a wholly a capella, polyphonic texure, with the two "angels" and the "blessed Soul" contrasting with the choir in the "Canticum Simeonis."

Gardiner and company are the perfect agents of Schütz's grace-- Gardiner is probably the greatest exponent of the "Get out of the way of the music" school of HIP, and that just happens to be the one I favor. Clarity is what the music needs, and what it gets. Gardiner also has never found a Baroque piece out of which he couldn't ferret the dance rhythms. His singers are clear-voiced, articulation is clean, tuning and balance flawless, tempi strict, rhythms meticulous-- and the result is not at all cold, but full of light and warmth. The emotions rise out of the music and overtake you.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An unending source of pleasure and spiritual renewal., September 9, 2005

By 

RENS (Dover, NH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Schutz: Musikalische Exequien (Motetten Und Konzerte/Motets & Concertos) (Audio CD)

As a music historian and a German scholar as well as a pastor, I concur with the other reviewers: this is a magnificent recording of first-rate performances of significant compositions by Heinrich Schuetz. For the sake of your health and well-being, for the joy of your heart, get this CD and listen to it often!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best recordings of Schütz I've heard, November 5, 2003

By 

Steven Guy (Croydon, South Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Schutz: Musikalische Exequien (Motetten Und Konzerte/Motets & Concertos) (Audio CD)

This recording isn't new but it is still extremely good. The Requiem is sung and played with great feeling and style. There are other good recordings of this work, but this one is still out in front.

The four motets on this recording are stunning. Ist nicht Ephraim and Auf dem Gebirge are both performed with great pathos and feeling. The musicians from His Majestys Sagbuts & Cornetts play with great feeling and surround the voices in a beautiful and 'sacred' way. This is how the music of Heinrich Schütz should be performed!