Composer

:

Alfred Schnittke

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Cantata

Compose Date

:

1982 - 1983

Average_duration

:

34:15

"Seid Nüchtern und Wachet" is a choral work composed by Alfred Schnittke in 1983. The piece was premiered on November 6, 1983, in Moscow, by the USSR Ministry of Culture Chamber Choir, conducted by Valery Polyansky. The work is divided into three movements, each with its own distinct character and musical language. The first movement, "Seid nüchtern," is a setting of a text from the First Epistle of Peter, urging Christians to be sober and vigilant in the face of temptation. The music is spare and austere, with a slow, chant-like melody in the choir accompanied by a simple organ part. The harmonies are mostly static, with occasional dissonances that create a sense of tension and unease. The second movement, "Wachet," is based on a text from the Gospel of Matthew, in which Jesus warns his disciples to be watchful for the coming of the Son of Man. The music is more complex and dramatic than the first movement, with a faster tempo and more intricate vocal lines. The choir is accompanied by a full orchestra, which provides a rich, colorful backdrop for the vocal parts. The harmonies are more dissonant and chromatic than in the first movement, reflecting the sense of urgency and foreboding in the text. The final movement, "Denn ihr wisst nicht," is a setting of a text from the Gospel of Mark, in which Jesus tells his disciples that no one knows the day or hour of his return. The music is slower and more contemplative than the second movement, with a gentle, flowing melody in the choir and a delicate accompaniment for strings and harp. The harmonies are more consonant and diatonic than in the previous movements, creating a sense of peace and resolution. Overall, "Seid Nüchtern und Wachet" is a powerful and deeply spiritual work that reflects Schnittke's interest in religious themes and his mastery of choral and orchestral writing. The piece is notable for its use of contrasting musical languages to convey different moods and emotions, as well as its skillful blending of traditional and modernist elements.

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