Complete edition - Carus-Verlag

10 Schütz Complete recordingGeistliche Chor-Music 1648When it comes to paying tribute to HeinrichSchütz’s compositional achievement, in his art histreatment of the text and language must be men -tioned first. The Geistliche Chor-Music, one of hismost important works from the year 1648, is char -acterized by the carefully-thought-out musical realizationof the meaning of the text. In his detailedforeword to the collection of 29 motets for five toseven voices the composer presented these as modelsfor composition without a basso continuo – itwas his conviction that every young composershould obtain “the proper foundation for a goodcounterpoint.” In spite of the strict counterpoint,stylistically speaking from an earlier era, the “Musicuspoeticus” instilled his works with a strongly expressivecharacter. The individual motets arestructured differently and they vary, according tocontent, in their length and character. Short, ratherstraightforward pieces stand alongside long,worked-out pieces with greater expressive intensity,and cheerful, optimistic works are juxtaposed withplaintive ones.Italienische MadrigaleThanks to a stipend from his patron, the LandgraveMoritz von Hessen-Kassel, Schütz was able topursue a three-year course of study under GiovanniGabrieli in Venice from 1609 to 1612, which heconcluded with the publication in 1611 of themadrigal collection Il Primo libro de Madrigali.Already in this, his Opus primus, Schütz emerged asan outstanding composer: In their musical quality,the 18 five-part madrigals exceed much that wasstill composed in the traditional madrigal style at thebeginnning of the 17th century.Carus 83.237… Under the direction of Hans-Christoph Rademann,the singing of the Dresdner Kammerchor isbeautifully balanced, stylish, poised and intelligent.International Record ReviewCarus 83.232 (2 CDs)