BaL 4.12.21 - The music of Heinrich Schütz

[Ein Heldenleben]

Good survey this. Can’t point my finger on what it is I like about Schütz’s music . I suspect I’m in a minority…

[kuligin]

Far far better than I feared and in my opinion far better than the overview of Zelenka.

Schutz just composed so much and of such high quality and there are so many recordings an overview makes no sense, fine for the songs of Duparc or even Faure, but Purcell would not be treated like this.

But but this was still worthwhile because Ms Gibson knows her stuff, no gushing at all but in stead succinct comments, when she says a recording is a favourite I totally believe her, and so she has managed to touch on the main types of work and even provide examples of different approaches, the most one could hope for , and Andrews interruptions were few and limited to a type of de capo statement of what she had just said.

Must get a recording of the Psalms of David……

[Darloboy]

I agree there are just too many works, many of which have been recorded many times, I found the Zelenka review confused, but this is surely a much harder task for the reviewer.

This was even more confused than the Zelenka programme. Even though Ms Gibson didn't cover a huge volume of works (only about 8, I think), I counted that she played 19 extracts in about 40 mins and I found it very difficult to keep up with her. I also spent half my time trying to decipher the garbled names of the artists. It also seems that the recommendations now posted on the web site don't completely correspond to her actual recommendations at the end of the programme. For instance, she recommended the DHM box set but the Brilliant box set appears as her recommendation on the web site.

[Darloboy]

This was even more confused than the Zelenka programme. Even though Ms Gibson didn't cover a huge volume of works (only about 8, I think), I counted that she played 19 extracts in about 40 mins and I found it very difficult to keep up with her. I also spent half my time trying to decipher the garbled names of the artists. It also seems that the recommendations now posted on the web site don't completely correspond to her actual recommendations at the end of the programme. For instance, she recommended the DHM box set but the Brilliant box set appears as her recommendation on the web site.

Along with Box I of the Rademann complete set

[Lawrence]

Good survey this. Can’t point my finger on what it is I like about Schütz’s music . I suspect I’m in a minority…

I'm an enthusiastic member of the minority!

[gurnemanz]

This was even more confused .... For instance, she recommended the DHM box set but the Brilliant box set appears as her recommendation on the web site.

Having checked the list at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00126tb, I was about to make the same point. The DHM is the only one of the three not mentioned.
Another source of potential confusion is that she played and recommended Junghänel with Cantus Cölln and Concerto Palatino - French Harmonia Mundi recordings from 2005. At the end she commended the DHM box which contained Cantus Cölln recordings, but did not make clear that these are earlier ones, also with Junghänel, but with Musica Fiata in 1992.

[Lawrence]

Far far better than I feared and in my opinion far better than the overview of Zelenka.

Schutz just composed so much and of such high quality and there are so many recordings an overview makes no sense, fine for the songs of Duparc or even Faure, but Purcell would not be treated like this.

But but this was still worthwhile because Ms Gibson knows her stuff, no gushing at all but in stead succinct comments, when she says a recording is a favourite I totally believe her, and so she has managed to touch on the main types of work and even provide examples of different approaches, the most one could hope for , and Andrews interruptions were few and limited to a type of de capo statement of what she had just said.

Must get a recording of the Psalms of David……

I'm sure you will love the Psalms of David, I certainly do. The recording I have is of the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, directed by Richard Marlow, with His Majesties Sagbutts and Cornetts, released in 1991 on the Conifer label.

[Lawrence]

Having checked the list at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00126tb, I was about to make the same point. The DHM is the only one of the three not mentioned.
Another source of potential confusion is that she played and recommended Junghänel with Cantus Cölln and Concerto Palatino - French Harmonia Mundi recordings from 2005. At the end she commended the DHM box which contained Cantus Cölln recordings, but did not make clear that these are earlier ones, also with Junghänel, but with Musica Fiata in 1992.

I note that the Brilliant Classics box does not contain the Psalms of David so presumably that's why it is not described as the complete works. Have not been able to find the DHM box so far.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The Weihnachshistorie was the first of his works I got to know, from an Argo LP conducted by Roger Norrington in the days when he was an early music specialist, and I immediately found it highly appealing.

I had that excellent LP. It's pity it appears to be no longer available.

[Bryn]

I note that the Brilliant Classics box does not contain the Psalms of David so presumably that's why it is not described as the complete works. Have not been able to find the DHM box so far.

Not cheap: https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...schutz-edition

or, if it is actually in stock: https://laboiteamusique.eu/product/h...chutz-edition/

[Lawrence]

Not cheap: https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...schutz-edition

or, if it is actually in stock: https://laboiteamusique.eu/product/h...chutz-edition/

Many thanks, very helpful. I will explore them.

[gurnemanz]

Not cheap: https://www.prestomusic.com/classica...schutz-edition

or, if it is actually in stock: https://laboiteamusique.eu/product/h...chutz-edition/

At a guess I would think the DHM CDs are no longer available except as leftover stock or second hand. I got them in 2015 for only Euro 17.99 at jpc, who no longer list them. The download does seem rather expensive.

PS In the same jpc order I also got his recommendable Secular Works from Weser-Renaissance Bremen on cpo. I think she mentioned them in the BaL. I see they are now on special offer for only Euro 2.99. I paid the old price.

[edashtav]

Far far better than I feared and in my opinion far better than the overview of Zelenka.

Schutz just composed so much and of such high quality and there are so many recordings an overview makes no sense, fine for the songs of Duparc or even Faure, but Purcell would not be treated like this.

But but this was still worthwhile because Ms Gibson knows her stuff, no gushing at all but in stead succinct comments, when she says a recording is a favourite I totally believe her, and so she has managed to touch on the main types of work and even provide examples of different approaches, the most one could hope for , and Andrews interruptions were few and limited to a type of de capo statement of what she had just said.

Must get a recording of the Psalms of David……

my reaction was similar: a difficult task, done well.

[ardcarp]

Yes, an enjoyable programme which encompassed all Schutz's varied styles. But I wonder how many are going to fork out for massive box-sets?

Two expressions need some untangling (1) the word 'obbligato', used for instruments doubling voice parts, and (2) Schutz being a 'forerunner' of Bach.
Discuss!

[RichardB]

I've worked my way through about half of the Rademann complete edition (which is available on Qobuz), and everything in it is on a very high level.

I guess there are very many composers who could be described as "forerunners of Bach", but (see the ongoing Abel+Mozart thread) it can be limiting to one's understanding and enjoyment of music by (for example) Schütz always to be comparing it to one of the "greats". Schütz's music goes to places Bach's music doesn't, whereas the implication of "forerunner" is that it went towards the same places as Bach's but didn't get there. I'm not sure that Bach would have known Schütz's music directly, although he certainly knew plenty of music that was directly influenced by Schütz.