Schütz: The Seven Last Words

At the end of Europe’s brutal Thirty Years War in 1648, Heinrich Schütz published a volume of motets under the simple title of Geistliche Chor-Music or ‘Sacred Choir Music’. Fretwork is joined by a select group of singers in works from the collection and other pieces by the composer and his contemporaries that contemplate the sorrows of Christ’s crucifixion and express joy at its promise of eternal salvation, culminating in Schütz’s profound meditation Die sieben Worte Jesu Christi am Kreuz.

Repertoire:

Heinrich Schütz - Sehet an den Feigenbaum

Johann Hermann Schein - Banchetto Musicale: Suite No. 7

Samuel Scheidt - Da Jesus an dem Kreuze stund SSWV113

Heinrich Schütz - Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott SWV447

Samuel Scheidt - Ludi Musici: Paduan dolorosa, Courant dolorosa

Heinrich Schütz - Auf dem Gebirge

- Die sieben Worte Jesu Christi am Kreuz SWV478

Performers:

Fretwork

Martha McLorinan - mezzo-soprano

Elisabeth Paul - alto

Charles Daniels - tenor

Simon Wall - tenor

Jimmy Holliday - bass

Silas Wollston - organ