Composer

:

Dietrich Buxtehude

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

5:13

Dietrich Buxtehude's 'Befiehl dem Engel, dass er komm' (Command the angel to come) is a sacred vocal work composed for four voices and basso continuo. The piece is believed to have been composed in the late 17th century, during Buxtehude's tenure as the organist at the Marienkirche in Lübeck, Germany. The work is structured in three movements, with the first and third movements being based on the same text from Psalm 91:11-12. The opening movement is a lively and joyful setting of the text, with the four voices singing in unison and harmony over a lively basso continuo. The second movement is a slower and more contemplative setting of the text, with the four voices singing in a more homophonic style over a simple basso continuo. The final movement returns to the lively and joyful character of the opening movement, with the four voices singing in unison and harmony over a more complex and virtuosic basso continuo. The text of the final movement is a prayer for protection and guidance, and Buxtehude's music reflects this with its energetic and uplifting character. Overall, 'Befiehl dem Engel, dass er komm' is a typical example of Buxtehude's sacred vocal music, with its lively and joyful character, virtuosic vocal writing, and richly ornamented basso continuo. The work is believed to have been premiered at the Marienkirche in Lübeck, and it remains a popular and frequently performed piece in the repertoire of Baroque sacred music.

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