Heinrich Schütz wrote Musikalische Exequien, Op. 7, the centerpiece of tonight’s program, upon the request of German Count Heinreich II of Reuss-Gera. It includes texts taken from the Old Testament, the gospels, and Lutheran chorales. Schütz most probably wrote it when he was Italy, where he became interested in and able to compose music to capture the meanings and imagery of text, and to dramatize the emotions contained within. This is one of the elements that most influenced other composers of subsequent generations. We’ll hear chorales and motets by members of the Bach family, as well as works for organ by Johann Pachelbel, performed by Jove Capella Reial de Catalunya, a vocal ensemble whose young talents are trained by members of Jordi Savall’s International Center for Early Music.
Tonight’s music was recorded live in concert March 17, 2019, in Oriol Martorell Hall in Barcelona’s L’Auditori, as part of the Emergents Barcelona Music Festival. Thanks to WFMT’s association with the European Broadcasting Union. we’re able to offer tonight’s concert as a stream for 30 days following the broadcast. A blue “Listen” button will appear when the stream is available.