Musicon: Heinrich Schütz | A German in Venice

Whilst relatively unknown, Schütz is one of the most important figures in the history of music, straddling the period between the end of the Renaissance and the high baroque.  He spent two extended periods in Venice under the tutelage of Giovanni Gabrieli, and later Claudio Monteverdi, which came to define his musical language, heavily influencing not only the music of his contemporaries, but also the great composers of the later German baroque era, such as Buxtehude, Telemann, Handel and JS Bach. The programme explores Schütz’s mesmerising solo vocal concertos alongside music of his contemporaries and successors, highlighting the various influences on Schütz, and in turn, the lasting impact he had on the next generation of German composers.

In the early 1600s, Venice was the cultural capital of the world, boasting the likes of the artist Tintoretto, the architect Longhena, buildings such as the impressive St Mark’s Basilica, the famous Carnevale festival, as well as celebrated composers and musicians.  It is no wonder, therefore, that the city had a lasting impact on Heinrich Schütz.  He spent two extended periods in Venice; the first, studying under Giovanni Gabrieli from 1609 to 1612, and the second, meeting and studying with the great Claudio Monteverdi in 1628.  This greatly influenced Schütz’s music as he absorbed and combined the ornate, florid and theatrical Venetian compositional techniques with the more understated Lutheran tradition, resulting in a wonderfully unique musical style.

Performers:

Tenor: David de Winter

Violins: Rachel Harris, Kathryn Parry

Cello: Tatty Theo

Harpsichord: Carolyn Gibley

Programme:

Schütz - Exsultavit cor meum (4.30)
Alessandro Grandi - Decantabat (4)
Schütz - Herr unser Herrscher (5)
Claudio Monteverdi - Laudate Dominum (4)
InstrumentalFrancesco Cavalli - O quam suavis est (4)
Schütz - Lobet den Herrn (4.30)
Grandi - Sonent citharae (4.30)
Schütz - Cantabo Domino in vita mea (4.30)

Schütz - Paratum cor meum (4)
Monteverdi - Confitebor tibi Domine (8)
Schütz - O susser, O freundlicher (4.30)
InstrumentalGiovanni Sances - Stabat Mater (10)
Schütz - Ich werde nicht sterben (4.30)
Grandi - Confitebor tibi Domine (3.30)
Schütz - Ich danke dir, Herr (4)