The Thirty Years’ War, one of the most destructive conflicts in history, raged from 1618 to 1648. Heinrich Schütz (1585–1672), organist and choirmaster at the Saxon court of Dresden, was spared direct involvement in the fighting, but faced straitened wartime circumstances. His works during this period reflect these realities, calling for reduced performing forces. But the music itself has a special radiant force, as though Schütz was trying to provide rays of hope wherever and however he could. We perform selections from several of his publications during the war, including Cantiones sacrae, Symphoniae sacrae, and Geistliche Chormusik, as well as instrumental works by Schütz’ student and successor Matthias Weckmann.
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Christopher Fritzsche
Green Mountain Consort Live Oak Baroque Orchestra Sunday, September 23, 3pm BachGrounder pre-concert talk, 2:25PM SCHROEDER HALL |