La Capella Ducale - Heinrich Schütz: Schwanengesang (2023) Hi-Res

Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672) had already completed his eightieth year when he set the 119th Psalm to music with almost youthful freshness. The enormous text poem apparently offered him a musical challenge of the highest caliber and, in terms of content, the opportunity to write down his unshakable faith in a powerful confession. He supplemented this so-called swan song with his creative examination of Psalm 100 and the German Magnificat - two hymns of praise to the greatness of the Lord in whose hand he felt secure. A not inconsiderable problem to be solved here, as with so many works of the time, is the question of instrumentation. The original indications are often enough approximate, and in actual performances one often had to make do with what was available. Roland Wilson, a pronounced connoisseur of the matter, has thoroughly researched the historical sources of the work and Schütz's indications. The result of this research is a recording of extraordinary color and impressive richness of variety - a worthy credo and a testimony to artistic care all in one.