Composer

:

Heinrich Schütz

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Publication Date

:

1636

Average_duration

:

3:03

Heinrich Schütz's 'Eins bitte ich vom Herren' is a sacred vocal work composed in the early 17th century. The piece is part of Schütz's collection of sacred works known as 'Symphoniae Sacrae', which was published in 1629. The work is scored for four voices (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) and continuo. The premiere of 'Eins bitte ich vom Herren' is not known, but it is believed to have been performed in Dresden, where Schütz was the court composer for the Elector of Saxony. The piece consists of a single movement and has a duration of approximately four minutes. The text of the piece is a German paraphrase of Psalm 27:4, which reads "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple." Schütz's setting of the text is characterized by its simplicity and directness, with the vocal lines closely following the natural rhythms and inflections of the text. The piece begins with a brief instrumental introduction, after which the soprano voice enters with the opening phrase of the text. The other voices gradually join in, with the four parts weaving in and out of each other in a contrapuntal texture. The piece builds to a climax on the words "to behold the beauty of the Lord", before subsiding into a quiet, reflective conclusion. Overall, 'Eins bitte ich vom Herren' is a beautiful and expressive example of Schütz's sacred music. Its simplicity and directness make it accessible to a wide range of performers and listeners, while its profound spiritual message continues to resonate with audiences today.

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