Composer

:

Heinrich Schütz

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Song

Publication Date

:

1671

Average_duration

:

6:49

Heinrich Schütz's 'Die Fürsten verfolgen mich ohn Ursach (Psalm 119: Schin & Thau), SWV 492' is a sacred vocal work composed in the early 17th century. The piece is part of Schütz's larger collection of works based on the Psalms, which he composed during his tenure as Kapellmeister at the court of Elector Johann Georg I in Dresden. The composition is divided into two movements, each of which sets a different section of Psalm 119. The first movement, based on the Hebrew letters Schin and Thau, is a lament in which the psalmist expresses his distress at being persecuted by unjust rulers. The second movement, based on the Hebrew letter Thau, is a prayer for deliverance and a declaration of the psalmist's faith in God's righteousness. The piece is characterized by Schütz's use of expressive dissonance and chromaticism to convey the psalmist's emotional turmoil. The vocal lines are often highly ornamented, with frequent use of melisma and other decorative techniques. The accompaniment is sparse, consisting primarily of a continuo line that supports the vocal parts. 'Die Fürsten verfolgen mich ohn Ursach' was likely composed in the early 1620s, and it premiered at the court of Elector Johann Georg I in Dresden. The piece is representative of Schütz's mature style, which combined the polyphonic traditions of the Renaissance with the emerging Baroque style. Schütz's use of expressive dissonance and chromaticism in this piece would go on to influence later composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach. Overall, 'Die Fürsten verfolgen mich ohn Ursach' is a powerful example of Schütz's skill as a composer of sacred vocal music. Its emotional intensity and expressive use of harmony and melody make it a compelling work that continues to be performed and studied today.

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