The Musicalische Exequien, Schutz, by Vox Luminis. Berkeley Festival of Early Music.


 
 

 



Belgian Vox Luminis played Schutz and the Bach family in the Berkeley Festival of early music last evening.  This included: a variety of arrangements from Johann, Johann Michael, and  Christoph, Ludwig and Sebastian  Bach. (1604-1750 collectively) The great great grandfather of Bach was also a composer and musician. Accompaniment was on the viola da gamba.  The main text is from Genesis, about God not abandoning Mankind.   The hope is for consolation and redemption.    The last two lines conclude:  "I am a clod of earth; I do not trust earthly things."   The Musicalische Exequien,   received Gramophone's Recording of the Year Award, the Baroque Vocal Gramophone Award and the International Classical Music Award.   I purchased this precious recording, of this mass  commissioned from Schutz by the Prince Heinrich von Reuss, under whose jurisdiction Gera had been sheltered from conflict, during the Thirty Years War.  A skilled diplomat, and Humanist, he was also religious, and planned every detail of his funeral in advance, including this commission.  The performance was in the First Congregational Church, Berkeley.  The Artistic Director of Vox Luminis is Lionel Meunier.  What was interesting was that the music was all composed for funerals, as the commission was received by patrons for this mass.  These are a couple of my favorite sections.  The Life Lasting 70 years was sung again, as an encore, for a woman whose birthday was the day of the performance and who had been a host to the Belgians.   

Unser Leben Wahret 70 Jahr

Unser Leben wahret siebenzig Jahr,

Und ween’s hoch kommt,

So sind’s achtzig Jahr,

Und wenn es kostlich gewesen ist,

So ist es Muh und Arbeit gewesen.

Denn es fahret, schnell dahin,

Als flogen wir davon.

 
And this one which needs translation:
 
Sei Nun Wieder Zufrieden Meine Seele

Sei nun wiederzufrieden, meine Seele,

Den der Herr tut dir Guts.

Denn du hast meine Seele

Aus dem Tode gerissen,

Meine Augen von Tranen,

Meinen FuB vom Gleiten.

Ich will wandeln vor dem Hem Lande der Legendigen.

 
Now, again be content, my soul,

For the Lord does good things for you.

For you(Lord)have snatched

My soul from death,

my eyes from tears,

my foot from slipping.

I will walk in the Lord’s presence

In the land of the living.

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