Composer

:

Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1693

Publication Date

:

1693

Average_duration

:

6:44

Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber's 'Nisi Dominus in D minor, C. 22' is a sacred vocal work composed in the late 17th century. The piece is scored for solo bass voice, strings, and continuo, and is divided into nine movements. The composition was likely composed in the early 1680s, during Biber's tenure as Kapellmeister at the court of the Bishop of Olomouc in Moravia. The work was likely intended for performance in the context of the Catholic liturgy, and its text is drawn from Psalm 127. The first movement, marked "Nisi Dominus," is a recitative in which the soloist declares that "unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." The second movement, "Vanum est vobis," is an aria in which the soloist warns that "it is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil." The third movement, "Surgite," is a call to action, urging the faithful to "arise, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart." The fourth movement, "Cum dederit," is a contemplative aria in which the soloist reflects on the blessings that come from the Lord. The fifth movement, "Sicut sagittae," is a lively aria in which the soloist compares children to arrows in the hand of a warrior. The sixth movement, "Beatus vir," is a recitative in which the soloist declares that "blessed is the man who fears the Lord." The seventh movement, "Gloria Patri," is a doxology in which the soloist praises the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The eighth movement, "Sicut erat," is a repeat of the opening recitative, and the ninth and final movement, "Amen," is a brief affirmation of faith. Throughout the work, Biber employs a variety of musical techniques to convey the meaning of the text. The opening recitative, for example, is marked by a descending chromatic line that suggests the futility of human effort without divine intervention. The lively "Sicut sagittae" features virtuosic string writing that evokes the image of arrows flying through the air. Overall, 'Nisi Dominus in D minor, C. 22' is a powerful and expressive work that showcases Biber's skill as a composer of sacred music. Its combination of solo voice, strings, and continuo creates a rich and varied sonic palette that is well-suited to the text of the psalm.

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