Composer

:

Heinrich Schütz

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Motet

Publication Date

:

1647

Average_duration

:

7:23

Heinrich Schütz's 'Meine Seele erhebt den Herren' (My soul magnifies the Lord) is a sacred vocal work for five voices and basso continuo. It was composed in 1627 and is part of his 'Geistliche Chormusik' (Sacred Choral Music), which was published in 1648. The work is also known as SWV 344 or Op. 10/4. The piece is based on the Magnificat, a hymn of praise to the Virgin Mary from the Gospel of Luke. It is divided into seven movements, each corresponding to a verse of the Magnificat. The first movement is a choral setting of the opening verse, 'Meine Seele erhebt den Herren' (My soul magnifies the Lord), and features imitative polyphony and rich harmonies. The second movement is a duet for soprano and alto, 'Denn er hat seine elende Magd angesehen' (For he has looked upon his lowly servant), which is more homophonic in texture and has a more intimate character. The third movement is a choral setting of the third verse, 'Er hat die Hungrigen gesättigt' (He has filled the hungry with good things), which is lively and dance-like in character. The fourth movement is a trio for alto, tenor, and bass, 'Er denket der Barmherzigkeit' (He remembers his mercy), which is more contemplative and features a descending chromatic line in the bass. The fifth movement is a choral setting of the fifth verse, 'Er stößt die Gewaltigen vom Stuhl' (He has brought down the powerful from their thrones), which is dramatic and features sudden shifts in dynamics and texture. The sixth movement is a duet for soprano and bass, 'Er füllt mit Gütern die Hungrigen' (He fills the hungry with good things), which is more lyrical and features a descending melodic line in the bass. The final movement is a choral setting of the closing verse, 'Gloria Patri' (Glory be to the Father), which is a joyful and exuberant conclusion to the work. Overall, 'Meine Seele erhebt den Herren' is a masterful example of Schütz's skill in combining the polyphonic style of the Renaissance with the emerging Baroque style. The work features rich harmonies, expressive melodies, and a wide range of textures and dynamics, making it a powerful and moving expression of faith.

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