Psalmen Davids

Psalmen Davids (Psalms of David) is a collection of sacred choral music, settings mostly of psalms in German by Heinrich Schütz, who had studied the Venetian polychoral style with Giovanni Gabrieli. Book 1 was printed in Dresden in 1619 as his Opus 2. It comprises 26 individual settings, which were assigned numbers 22 to 47 in the Schütz-Werke-Verzeichnis (SWV). Most of them use the text of a complete psalm in the translation by Martin Luther.[1]

This article is about a collection of psalm settings published in 1619. For Psalmen Davids published in 1628, 1640 and 1661, see Becker Psalter § Schütz, and List of compositions by Heinrich Schütz § Becker Psalter.
Psalmen Davids
by Heinrich Schütz
Title page of the first edition, 1619
CatalogueSWV 22 to 47
Opus2
GenreSacred vocal music
TextPsalms
LanguageGerman
DedicationJohann Georg I
Published1 June 1619 (1619-06-01) in Dresden

The full title of the publication, "Psalmen Davids / sampt / Etlichen Moteten und Concerten / mit acht und mehr Stimmen / Nebenst andern zweyen Capellen daß dero etliche / auff drey und vier Chor nach beliebung gebraucht / werden können", indicates that some motets and concertos are added to the psalm settings, and the scoring is for eight and more voices and two groups of instrumentalists, so that in some pieces three and even four choirs can participate in polychoral settings.[2]

History

In 1619, Schütz took up his office as Hofkapellmeister at the court of the Elector of Saxony, Johann Georg I., in Dresden, succeeding Rogier Michael. On 1 June, he married Magdalena, the daughter of Christian Wildeck, a court official. Planned well, the Psalmen Davids appeared the same day, dedicated to the Elector.[1]

Schütz mentions in the introduction: "daß er etzliche Teutsche Psalmen auf Italienische Manier komponiert habe, zu welcher [er] von [seinem] lieben und in aller Welt hochberühmten Praeceptore Herrn Johan Gabrieln / ... / mit fleiß angeführet worden ... war" (that he composed several German psalms in Italian manner, to which he was induced intensely by his dear preceptor Giovanni Gabrieli, highly famous in all the world).[1]

Collection

Schütz chose 20 psalms, two of which he set twice, and added movements based on a hymn, the first stanza of Johann Gramann's "Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren", and on texts from the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah.[1] Most, but not all, psalms end with the doxology (in the table short: dox), "Ehre sei dem Vater" (Glory be to the Father).[1] Translations of SWV 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, 33, 36, 37, 39 and 40 are provided by Emmanuel Music[3]

No. SWV Psalm no. Title English Source (and notes)
1SWV 22110Der Herr sprach zu meinem HerrenThe Lord said unto my LordPsalm 110
2SWV 232Warum toben die HeidenWhy do the heathen ragePsalm 2
3SWV 246Ach, Herr, straf mich nichtAh, Lord, do not punish mePsalm 3 + dox
4SWV 25130Aus der TiefeOut of the depthsPsalm 130 + dox
5SWV 26122Ich freu mich des HerrnI was glad when they said unto mePsalm 122
6SWV 278Herr, unser HerrscherLord, our RulerPsalm 8 + dox
7SWV 281Wohl dem, der nicht wandeltHe is fortunate who does not walkPsalm 1 + dox
8SWV 2984Wie lieblich sind deine WohnungenHow amiable are thy tabernaclesPsalm 84
9SWV 30128Wohl dem, der den Herren fürchtetHe is fortunate who fears the LordPsalm 128 + dox
10SWV 31121Ich hebe meine Augen aufI will lift up mine eyes unto the hillsPsalm 121
11SWV 32136Danket dem Herren, denn er ist freundlichO give thanks unto the Lord; for he is goodPsalm 136
12SWV 3323Der Herr ist mein HirtThe Lord is my ShepherdPsalm 23, no dox
13SWV 34111Ich danke dem HerrnPraise ye the LORDPsalm 111
14SWV 3598Singet dem Herrn ein neues LiedO sing unto the LORD a new songPsalm 98
15SWV 36100Jauchzet dem Herren, alle WeltExult in the Lord, entire worldPsalm 100
16SWV 37137An den Wassern zu BabelBy the rivers of BabylonPsalm 137 + dox
17SWV 38150Alleluja! Lobet den HerrenlPraise ye the LordPsalm 150
18SWV 39103Lobe den Herren, meine SeeleBless the Lord, my soulPsalms 103:2–4, concerto
19SWV 40Ist nicht Ephraim mein teurer SohnIs not Ephraim my beloved sonJeremiah 31:20, motet
20SWV 41Nun lob, mein Seel, den HerrenNow praise, my soul, the Lordhymn, canzona
21SWV 42126Die mit Tränen säenThey that sow in tearsPsalms 126:5–6, motet
22SWV 43115Nicht uns, HerrNot unto us, O LordPsalm 115
23SWV 44128Wohl dem, der den Herren fürchtetBlessed is every one that feareth the LORDPsalm 128
24SWV 45136Danket dem Herren, denn er ist freundlichO give thanks unto the Lord; for he is goodPsalm 136
25SWV 46Zion spricht, der Herr hat mich verlassenNot unto us, O LordIsaiah 49:14–16, concerto
26SWV 47100Jauchzet dem Herren, alle WeltMake a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye landsPsalm 100, concerto

Reception

A reviewer from Gramophone wrote that Psalmen Davids "ranks among [Schütz's] most sumptuous and spectacular achievements".[4] Fabrice Fitch referred to it as the composer's "first monumental publication of sacred music", agreeing with Peter Wollny's comment on "its variety in the treatment of a medium whose potential for cliche is, after all, very great".[5]

Publication and recordings

The Psalmen Davids are part of the complete edition of the composer's works by Carus-Verlag, begun in 1992 as the Stuttgart Schütz Edition and planned to be completed by 2017. The edition uses the Heinrich-Schütz-Archiv of the Hochschule für Musik Dresden.[6] They were recorded, as part of the complete recordings of works by Schütz, by the Dresdner Kammerchor and organist Ludger Rémy, conducted by Hans-Christoph Rademann. Soloists are sopranos Dorothee Mields and Marie Luise Werneburg, altos David Erler and Stefan Kunath, tenors Georg Poplutz and Tobias Mäthger, and basses Stephan MacLeod and Felix Schwandtke.[7] A review notes the accent on a contrast, as the composer intended, between the soloists (favoriti) and the choir (ripieno):

These soloists, the so-called 'favoriti' are given the responsibility of bringing illustrative power to their sung lines, to sing 'as well and as sweetly' as possible. These solo singers are vested with the conveyance of the texts’ imagery in all its power and immediacy, whilst the ripieno choruses have a different function, which is, in the composer's words, 'for a strong sound and for splendour'.[2]

References
  1. "Entstehung Psalmen Davids SWV 22 - 47" (in German). Heinrich-Schütz-Haus. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  2. Woolf, Jonathan (2014). "Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672) / Psalms of David, Op.2 SWV22-47 (1619)". musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  3. "Motet & Liturgical Works Notes & Translations / Heinrich Schütz". Emmanuel Music. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  4. "Schutz: Psalms of David". Gramophone. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
  5. "Review". Gramophone. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
  6. "Heinrich Schütz – Stuttgart Schütz Edition". Carus-Verlag. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  7. "Heinrich Schütz: Psalmen Davids. Complete recordings, Vol. 8". Carus-Verlag. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
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