Chamber Choir of the Maîtrise de la Cathedrale de Metz, conducted by Christophe Bergossi
Ensemble Dulcis Melodia, conducted by Jean-François Haberer
The 26 Psalmen Davids were published in 1619 in Dresden, where Heinrich Schütz held the post of Hofkappelmeister at the court of Elector John George I of Saxony, to whom the work was dedicated on the occasion of his marriage to Magdalena Wildeck.
These German-language psalms were composed in the Italian manner, in particular according to the art of the famous Giovanni Gabrielli, with whom Schütz had studied. The Venetian polychoral style dominated, with works for 2, 3 or even 4 choirs, but the young German composer was not content to imitate his master and laid the foundations for the German vocal style of the 17th century. He used all the musical means at his disposal to highlight the psalm texts in impressively expressive frescoes.
The Dulcis Melodia ensemble brings together professional musicians from the Rhineland region who share a passion for 17th-century music. Since its beginnings, the ensemble has drawn on the experience and sensitivity of its members to bring to the repertoires it tackles - often drawn from the immense corpus of ‘forgotten’ works - a fresh perspective that is guided by a concern for historical authenticity. The ‘chamber choir’ of the Maîtrise de la cathédrale St Etienne de Metz, directed by Christophe Bergossi, is made up of around thirty adults. Most of the younger members have trained at the choir school. Together, the singers and musicians will take on the complex polyphony of the psalms, veritable founding scores of German sacred music.
The Psalms of David - Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672)
Chamber Choir of the Maîtrise de la Cathedrale de Metz, conducted by Christophe Bergossi
Ensemble Dulcis Melodia, conducted by Jean-François Haberer
The 26 Psalmen Davids were published in 1619 in Dresden, where Heinrich Schütz held the post of Hofkappelmeister at the court of Elector John George I of Saxony, to whom the work was dedicated on the occasion of his marriage to Magdalena Wildeck.
These German-language psalms were composed in the Italian manner, in particular according to the art of the famous Giovanni Gabrielli, with whom Schütz had studied. The Venetian polychoral style dominated, with works for 2, 3 or even 4 choirs, but the young German composer was not content to imitate his master and laid the foundations for the German vocal style of the 17th century. He used all the musical means at his disposal to highlight the psalm texts in impressively expressive frescoes.
The Dulcis Melodia ensemble brings together professional musicians from the Rhineland region who share a passion for 17th-century music. Since its beginnings, the ensemble has drawn on the experience and sensitivity of its members to bring to the repertoires it tackles - often drawn from the immense corpus of ‘forgotten’ works - a fresh perspective that is guided by a concern for historical authenticity. The ‘chamber choir’ of the Maîtrise de la cathédrale St Etienne de Metz, directed by Christophe Bergossi, is made up of around thirty adults. Most of the younger members have trained at the choir school. Together, the singers and musicians will take on the complex polyphony of the psalms, veritable founding scores of German sacred music.