Schütz' "Musicalische Exequien". Die kompositorische Disposition der "Sarginschriften" und ihr liturgischer Kontext

Abstract

In the first part of the Musicalische Exequien, Schütz follows the underlying coffin incriptions, not only by considering formal aspects (different styles for Bible passages and church hymns), but also by taking up a thematic feature. With the direct address to God, a new element appears in the text in the middle of the first section containing verses from Psalm 73, >>Herr, wenn ich dich nur habe<<. This rhetorical component has its musical counterpart in the freer style of chorale arrangement and in the use of compositional means of textual interpretation and emotional expression. Apparently, Schütz was also striving to depict death musically as a <<joyful>> event, as it was defined by Lutheran theology. (Vorlage)