Composer

:

Heinrich Schütz

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1625

Average_duration

:

5:40

Heinrich Schütz's 'Mit dem Amphion zwar mein Orgel und mein Harfe, SWV 501' is a sacred vocal work composed in the early 17th century. The piece was likely composed in the 1620s or 1630s, during Schütz's tenure as Kapellmeister at the court of Dresden. The work is scored for four voices (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) and continuo, and is divided into two movements. The first movement is a setting of Psalm 71:22-23, which reads "I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed." The second movement is a setting of Psalm 150, which reads "Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord." The first movement is characterized by its lively, dance-like rhythms and joyful mood. The vocal lines are highly ornamented, with frequent melismatic passages and virtuosic runs. The continuo provides a lively, rhythmic accompaniment, with frequent use of syncopation and hemiola. The second movement is more solemn and contemplative in character. The vocal lines are more homophonic, with frequent use of block chords and imitative counterpoint. The continuo provides a more subdued accompaniment, with frequent use of sustained chords and simple rhythmic patterns. Overall, 'Mit dem Amphion zwar mein Orgel und mein Harfe, SWV 501' is a masterful example of Schütz's skill in setting sacred texts to music. The work showcases his ability to create music that is both technically demanding and emotionally expressive, and demonstrates his mastery of the Baroque style.

More....