大象传媒

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of German early Baroque master Heinrich Sch眉tz. Today, Sch眉tz attempts to retire 鈥� and eventually bids farewell with his Schwanengesang.

Heinrich Sch眉tz lived to be 87 鈥� a pretty creditable age even now, but in the 17th century, extraordinary. As he approached his 60th birthday, his thoughts turned to retirement 鈥� and pension arrangements. Unfortunately for Sch眉tz, his then employer, Johann Georg I of Saxony, had different ideas 鈥� ideas that involved his celebrated kapellmeister continuing to work in much the same way as before, for an unspecified period of time. In the event, it took a change of leadership to bring about the result Sch眉tz so desired; the old Elector died, and in 1657, with Sch眉tz now a grand old 72, the new Elector, Johann Georg II, assented to new arrangements, involving a pension, permission to leave Dresden, and lighter duties. Sch眉tz, though, didn鈥檛 rest on his laurels, and some of his greatest music dates from his last years 鈥� including his sparse and powerful setting of the Matthew Passion, and his musical last will and testament, a collection of works he himself titled 鈥楽wansong鈥�.

Auf dem Gebirge, SWV 396 (Geistliche Chormusik)
David Erler, Alexander Schneider, countertenor
Cappella Sagitariana
Hans-Christoph Rademann, conductor

Feget den alten Sauerteig aus, SWV 404; Saul, Saul, was verfolgst du mich?, SWV 415; Komm, heiliger Geist, SWV 417 (Symphoniae Sacrae III)
Dresdner Barockorchester
Hans-Christoph Rademann, director

Ich danke dem Herrn von ganzem Herzen, SWV 424 (12 Geistliche Gesange, Op 13)
Dresden Chamber Choir
Hans-Christoph Rademann, conductor

Jauchzet dem Herren, alle Welt (Psalm 100), SWV 493
Collegium Vocale Gent
Concerto Palatino
Philippe Herreweghe, conductor

St Matthew Passion, SWV 479 (Und Siehe Da, Der Vorhang Im Tempel Zerreib In Zwei St眉ck)
Paul Elliott, tenor (Evangelist)
Rogers Covey-Crump, tenor (Pilate)
The Hilliard Ensemble

Mein Seele erhebt den Herren, SWV 494 (鈥楪erman Magnificat鈥�)
Collegium Vocale Gent
Concerto Palatino
Philippe Herreweghe, conductor

Produced by Chris Barstow for 大象传媒 Wales