Psalm 8 - Herr, unser Herrscher (SWV 27) (Full Score)

Schütz Psalm 8 - Herr, unser Herrscher (SWV 27) (Full Score)
for two four-part choirs, five-part Instrumental-Capella ad lib. and Basso continuo

Heinrich Schütz, who lived from 1585-1672 was undoubtedly the most important German composer in the era before Bach and Handel, and his work exercised a considerable influence on the development of music.  Making use of some of the innovations which had occurred in Italy, where he studied under Giovanni Gabrieli, he introduced a number of new elements into German music - a more monodic style of writing, the use of different and novel combinations of choirs and instrumental groups, and the setting of German words as well as Latin for religious works.  All of this resulted in works of a much more dramatic character than had hitherto been heard in Germany.

His second of collection of choral music, following the Italian Madrigals of 1611, was the Psalmen Davids (Psalms of David) SWV 22-47 issued in 1619 in Dresden.  They are his most sumptuous works and clearly illustrate the influence of his studies with Gabrieli in Italy.  Twenty of the twenty-six pieces are settings of complete Psalm texts, the others being motets, concertos and a canzone.