Composer

:

Nicolaus Bruhns

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Madrigal

Average_duration

:

13:58

Nicolaus Bruhns was a German Baroque composer and organist who lived from 1665 to 1697. He was born in Schwabstedt, Schleswig-Holstein, and was the son of a Lutheran pastor. Bruhns was a student of the famous Danish-German composer and organist Dieterich Buxtehude, and he became known for his vocal and instrumental compositions. One of Bruhns' most famous works is his cantata "Hemmt eure Tränenflut" (Hold back your flood of tears), which was composed in 1689. The cantata is a funeral music, and it was likely written for the funeral of Bruhns' father, who died in the same year. The cantata is divided into six movements, and it is scored for four solo voices (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass), two violins, viola da gamba, and continuo. The first movement is a somber and mournful aria for the bass soloist, who sings the text "Hemmt eure Tränenflut" (Hold back your flood of tears). The second movement is a duet for the soprano and alto soloists, who sing a dialogue between Mary and the Angel of Death. The third movement is a recitative for the tenor soloist, who sings the text "Ich folge dir nach" (I follow you after). The fourth movement is a chorale for the four soloists, who sing the text "Herzlich tut mich verlangen" (My heart is filled with longing). The fifth movement is a recitative for the bass soloist, who sings the text "Ich bin bereit" (I am ready). The final movement is a chorale for all the performers, who sing the text "Valet will ich dir geben" (I will bid you farewell). The cantata is characterized by its emotional intensity and its use of chromaticism and dissonance to convey the sadness and grief of the text. The vocal writing is highly expressive, with long melodic lines and frequent ornamentation. The instrumental parts are also highly virtuosic, with the violins and viola da gamba weaving intricate counterpoint around the vocal lines. "Hemmt eure Tränenflut" was premiered in the St. Mary's Church in Lübeck, where Bruhns was the organist. The cantata was highly regarded by Bruhns' contemporaries, and it has since become one of his most famous and beloved works.

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