Psalmen Davids, Op. 2 (Heinrich Schütz)

General information

Title: Psalmen Davids sampt etlichen Moteten und Concerten, published Dresden, 1619

Composer: Heinrich Schütz

Catalogue Number: SWV 22–47

Published: First published in Dresden, 1619, and subsequently denoted as Schütz's opus 2. Subsequently printed in the 19th century in the Sämtliche Werke (Old Schütz Edition) published in Leipzig and edited by Philipp Spitta, and more recently in the New Schütz Edition published since 1955 by Bärenreiter, Kassel, in volumes 23–26.

Description: This mighty collection, the first volume of Psalmen Davids, clearly shows the influence of Schütz's time in Venice under the tutelage of Giovanni Gabrieli, with many of the pieces written for multiple choirs, with obbligato instruments and extra vocal parts that can be disposed between voices and instruments ad libitum. In the instrumental listings below, almost all of the ensembles described as instruments... ad lib are partially or completely supplied with texts, so in effect the pieces for 2 choirs plus 2 instrumental groups can also be sung as pieces for 4 choirs. These extra choirs are described as the cappella, whereas the principal choir(s), which often include solo voices, are described as the cori favoriti.

List of works

Abbreviations:
bc = basso continuo, bsn = bassoon, cor = cornetto, timp = timpani, tpt = trumpet, trb = trombone, vl = violin, vla = viola

1. Der Herr sprach zu meinem Herren (Psalm 110), SWV 22

   SATB–SATB, instr à 5 ad lib, bc

2. Warum toben die Heiden (Psalm 2), SWV 23

   SATB–SATB, 2×instr à 4 ad lib, bc

3. Ach, Herr, straf mich nicht (Psalm 6), SWV 24

   SATB–SATB, bc

4. Aus der Tiefe (Psalm 130), SWV 25

   SATB–SATB, bc

5. Ich freu mich des (Psalm 122), SWV 26

   SATB–SATB, 2×instr à 4 ad lib, bc

6. Herr, unser Herrscher (Psalm 8), SWV 27

   SSAB–ATTB, instr à 5 ad lib, bc

7. Wohl dem, der nicht wandelt (Psalm 1), SWV 28

   SSAB–ATTB, bc

8. Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnunge (Psalm 84), SWV 29

   SSAB–TTBB, bc

9. Wohl dem, der den Herren fürchtet (Psalm 128), SWV 30

   SSAT–ATBB, bc

10. Ich hebe meine Augen auf (Psalm 121), SWV 31

    SATB–SATB, bc

11. Danket dem Herren, denn er ist freundlich (Psalm 136), SWV 32

    SSST–ATTB, 2×instr à 4 ad lib, bc

12. Der Herr ist mein Hirt (Psalm 23), SWV 33

    SSAT–SATB, bc

13. Ich danke dem Herrn (Psalm 111), SWV 34

    SATB–SATB, 2×instr à 4 ad lib, bc

14. Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied (Psalm 98), SWV 35

    SATB–SATB, bc

15. Jauchzet dem Herren, alle Welt (Psalm 100), SWV 36

    SATB+bc–SATB+bc

16. An den Wassern zu Babel (Psalm 137), SWV 37

    SATB–SATB, bc

17. Alleluja! Lobet den Herren (Psalm 150), SWV 38

    SATB–SATB, 2×instr à 4 ad lib, bc

18. Lobe den Herren, meine Seele (Concert), SWV 39

    SATB–SATB, bc

19. Ist nicht Ephraim mein teurer Sohn (Moteto), SWV 40

    SSTB–ATTB, 2×instr à 4 ad lib, bc

20. Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren (Canzon), SWV 41

    SATB–SATB, instr à 4, instr à 5 ad lib, bc

21. Die mit Tränen säen (Moteto), SWV 42

    ST+3trb–ST+3trb, bc

22. Nicht uns, Herr (Psalm 115), SWV 43

    T+3cor–SATB–A+3trb, bc

23. Wohl dem, der den Herren fürchtet (Psalm 128), SWV 44

    T+4cor–A+vl+3trb–SATB, instr à 4 ad lib, bc

24. Danket dem Herren, denn er ist freundlich (Psalm 136), SWV 45

    SSAT–A+3trb, instr à 5 ad lib, tpt, timp, bc

25. Zion spricht, der Herr hat mich verlassen (Concert), SWV 46

    ST+3cor,bsn–ST+4trb, 2×instr à 4 ad lib, bc

26. Jauchzet dem Herren, alle Welt (Concert), SWV 47

    AT+2cor,bsn–ST–S+vl+3vla, instr à 5 ad lib, bc