Composer

:

Heinrich Schütz

Genre

:

Choral

Publication Date

:

1628

Average_duration

:

5:39

Heinrich Schütz's 'An Wasserflüssen Babylon' is a sacred motet for five voices, composed in 1619. It was premiered in Dresden, Germany, during the composer's tenure as Kapellmeister to the Elector of Saxony. The piece is based on Psalm 137, which describes the lament of the Israelites in captivity in Babylon, longing for their homeland and the temple of Jerusalem. The motet is divided into three movements, each with its own distinct character. The first movement is a somber and mournful setting of the psalm text, with the voices singing in close harmony and the melody moving slowly and steadily. The second movement is more lively and rhythmic, with the voices imitating each other in a lively dance-like pattern. The third movement returns to the mournful character of the first, with the voices singing in a more complex and contrapuntal texture. Schütz's setting of 'An Wasserflüssen Babylon' is notable for its use of chromaticism and dissonance, which create a sense of tension and longing in the music. The composer also employs a variety of vocal techniques, including imitative counterpoint, homophonic textures, and expressive melodic lines, to convey the emotional depth of the psalm text. Overall, 'An Wasserflüssen Babylon' is a powerful and moving work that showcases Schütz's skill as a composer of sacred music. Its enduring popularity and continued performance today attest to its lasting impact on the choral repertoire.

More....