Christmas Story (Schütz)

The Historia of the Nativity, Christmas short history, SWV 435, is a Historia by Heinrich Schütz, the gospel, in this case the Christmas story according to Luke and Matthew, in music sets for use in worship as a Gospel reading. The plant was probably first performed in Dresden in 1660 and 1664 partly published.

History

The complete work title is: Historia the joys and gracious birth of God and Mary's Son, Jesus Christ. Contactor had already in 1623 a Auferstehungshistorie composed when he accepted the position as Kapellmeister at the court of the Elector of Dresden. The Christmas music was probably first performed in 1660 in the court orchestra of Johann Georg II in the Christmas service. Contactor mentioned the electors in the continuation of the long title: " as the same by order of Johann Georg of others vocaliter and instrumentaliter transported Into the music by Heinrich Schütz ."

The text of the Historia is almost exclusively the Bible in the translation of Martin Luther removed, framed by two choruses, the Introduction and the decision, a translation of the Christmas sequence " Grates nunc omnes " by Johann Spangenberg ( 1545 ). The Bible text from Luke Luke includes 2.1 to 21 LUT, the LUT 2.1 to 23 Mt of Matthew. The narrator is the evangelist. Other characters of the story appear in eight sections, each designated as intermediaries: the Annunciation Angel, the heavenly hosts, the shepherds, the wise men, priests, and scribes, Herod, and an angel appearing to Joseph.

The composer agreed in 1664 to a publication containing the recitatives and the text of the other parts. An epilogue, which was probably written by the Dresden cantor Alexander Herring, conveys that contactor believed that only the " princely chapels " could adequately perform the work, but he offered the more music for purchase upon request at. This first publication was later published in Collected Works, Volume IX, in Leipzig, 1885-1894 edited by Julius Spitta. Arnold Schering discovered the other voices in 1908 in the library of the University of Uppsala. He published in Volume XVII of the plant output.

Instrumentation and music

The work is scored for soloists and up to six -part choir ( SSATTB ) and orchestra. The Carus -Verlag published a critical edition, the two violins, two violas da gamba, two recorders, two trumpets, two trombones and basso continuo provides. The Running time is approximately 45 minutes.

The evangelist sings in secco recitative in Italian dramatic style in which Schütz emphasizes individual words and by frequent modulation illustrates what is happening. The angel is sung by a soprano, accompany the two violins, recorders characterize the shepherds. Herod is accompanied by trumpets, which are in contrast to the violins of the angels for the secular power.