Motet notes - Schütz

Schütz SWV 385: Das Wort ward Fleisch - Geistliche Chormusik

This is a piece about the mystery of incarnation (a “Magnum Mysterium”). After the lines “and lived among us,” overlapping counterpoint is avoided. The exchange between choirs in different registers, the clear rhythmic declamation of text, and the magic of Schütz’ spacing, create a majestic inscription of this Advent message.

©John Harbison

Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672)

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