Composer

:

Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Average_duration

:

9:12

Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck was a Dutch composer and organist of the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. He was born in Deventer, Netherlands, in 1562 and died in Amsterdam in 1621. Sweelinck was one of the most important composers of his time, and his music had a significant influence on the development of Baroque music. One of Sweelinck's most famous works is "Des boosdoenders wille seer quaet (Psalm 36)," which he composed in 1614. The piece is a setting of Psalm 36, which is a meditation on the wickedness of humanity and the goodness of God. The text of the psalm is sung in Dutch, and the piece is scored for four voices and organ. "Des boosdoenders wille seer quaet" is divided into three movements. The first movement is a slow and solemn setting of the psalm's opening verses. The second movement is a lively and rhythmic setting of the psalm's middle verses, which describe the wickedness of humanity. The third movement is a return to the slow and solemn mood of the first movement, and it sets the psalm's closing verses, which express trust in God's goodness. Sweelinck's setting of Psalm 36 is characterized by its expressive harmonies, intricate counterpoint, and skillful use of word painting. The music is full of contrasts, with moments of great intensity and moments of quiet contemplation. The organ part is particularly virtuosic, with elaborate figurations and colorful registrations. "Des boosdoenders wille seer quaet" was premiered in Amsterdam in 1614, and it quickly became one of Sweelinck's most popular works. It has been performed and recorded by many choirs and organists over the centuries, and it remains a beloved piece of Dutch choral music.

More....