Composer

:

Heinrich Schütz

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Publication Date

:

1629

Average_duration

:

3:48

Heinrich Schütz's 'Domine, labia mea aperies, SWV 271 (Op. 6/15)' is a sacred motet for five voices and basso continuo. It was composed in 1629 and premiered in Dresden, Germany. The piece is part of Schütz's collection of sacred music, 'Symphoniae sacrae', which was published in three volumes between 1629 and 1650. The motet is divided into two movements. The first movement is a setting of Psalm 51:15, "Domine, labia mea aperies, et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam" (O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise). The second movement is a setting of the Gloria Patri (Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit). The first movement begins with a solo voice singing the opening phrase, "Domine, labia mea aperies" (O Lord, open my lips). The other voices gradually join in, creating a rich and complex texture. The music is characterized by its use of chromaticism and dissonance, which create a sense of tension and urgency. The text is set in a highly expressive manner, with the music reflecting the emotional content of the words. The second movement is a more straightforward setting of the Gloria Patri. The music is characterized by its use of imitative polyphony, with the voices echoing and imitating each other. The music is joyful and celebratory, reflecting the text's praise of the Holy Trinity. Overall, 'Domine, labia mea aperies, SWV 271 (Op. 6/15)' is a masterful example of Schütz's skill as a composer of sacred music. The piece is characterized by its expressive use of text, its rich and complex textures, and its use of chromaticism and dissonance to create a sense of tension and urgency.

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