{{Short description|Baroque hymn with biblical lyrics/musical composition by Heinrich Schütz}} {{Infobox musical composition | name = Magnificat | composer = Heinrich Schütz | genre = Sacred vocal music | image = Durer, madonna in preghiera.jpg | image_size = 200px | alt = | caption = ''Betende Maria''<ref name="Dürer" /> (Praying Mary), {{nowrap|by Albrecht Dürer}} (1518) | text = Magnificat | language = {{flatlist| * Latin * German }} | composed = {{Start date|1628}} – {{End date|1671}} | misc = {{flatlist| * SWV 344 * {{nowrap|SWV 426}} * {{nowrap|SWV 468}} (in Latin) * SWV 494 }} }} Heinrich Schütz composed four extant settings of the '''Magnificat''' or ''Song of Mary'', one of the three New Testament canticles. He set one in Latin and three in German. In the Schütz-Werke-Verzeichnis (SWV), the compositions have the numbers 344, 426, 468 (in Latin) and 494. The settings on the German text are all part of larger groups of works. They are settings of Martin Luther's German Magnificat, "'''Meine Seele erhebt den Herren'''" (My soul magnifies the Lord). Schütz wrote the compositions for different forces and occasions.
== Magnificat ==
[[File:Heimsuchung, Unionskirche.jpg|thumb|''Heimsuchung'' (Visitation), Unionskirche, Idstein]] The Magnificat or ''Song of Mary'' is one of the three New Testament canticles, the others being Nunc dimittis and Benedictus. Mary sings the song on the occasion of her visit to Elizabeth, as narrated in the Gospel of Luke ({{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Luke|chapter=1|verse=39|range=–56}}). Magnificat, a regular part in Catholic vesper services, was also used in the Lutheran church, in vespers and for Marian feasts.
Schütz set the Magnificat text once in Latin and five times in German, ''Meine Seele erhebt den Herren'' (My soul magnifies the Lord), also called German Magnificat. Schütz composed them at different times for different forces, occasions and purpose. Some belong in the context of a larger collection. Two of the settings in German are lost.<ref name="Dickey" />
== Table of Magnificat compositions by Schütz ==
The sortable list below shows the year of composition, the language, context, publication date, scoring, key, duration in minutes, and access to a score. The vocal parts are abbreviated, S for soprano, A for alto, T for tenor and B for bass, in choir SATB. Schütz used Baroque instruments and did not always specify them specifically. As Johan van Vee points out, "there is general agreement that in those of his works which are strongly rooted in the tradition of counterpoint instruments can or should be used to support the voices".<ref name="Veen" /> {{clear}}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" | SWV ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Language ! scope="col" | In ! scope="col" | Published ! scope="col" | Vocal ! scope="col" | Instruments ! scope="col" | Key ! scope="col" | Duration ! scope="col" | Score |- | style="text-align: center;" | 344 || 1643 || German || ''Symphoniae sacrae II'' || 1647|| S || {{nowrap|2 instruments}} Bc || || || [https://imslp.org/wiki/Symphoniae_sacrae_II,_Op.10,_SWV_341-367_%28Sch%C3%BCtz,_Heinrich%29 {{nowrap|SWV 341–367}}] |- | style="text-align: center;" | 426 || 1625? || German || ''{{nowrap|Zwölf geistliche Gesänge}}'' || 1657 || SATB || Bc || || || [https://imslp.org/wiki/12_Geistliche_Ges%C3%A4nge,_Op.13,_SWV_420-431_%28Sch%C3%BCtz,_Heinrich%29 SWV 420–431] |- | style="text-align: center;" | 468 || 1665 || Latin || || || 3 choirs SATB || 3Tb 2Vl Bc 8 instruments, Cb Org || G || 13 || [https://imslp.org/wiki/Magnificat_anima_mea,_SWV_468_%28Sch%C3%BCtz,_Heinrich%29 SWV 468] |- | style="text-align: center;" | 494 || 1669 || German || ''Swan Song'' || 1671 || {{nowrap|2 choirs SATB}} || 8 instruments, Cb Org || {{nowrap|A minor}} || 8 || [https://imslp.org/wiki/Meine_Seele_erhebt_den_Herren,_SWV_494_%28Sch%C3%BCtz,_Heinrich%29 SWV 494] |- |}
== SWV 344 ==
thumb|upright|Schütz in 1627 Schütz composed ''Meine Seele erhebt den Herren'', SWV 344, in 1643 as part of ''Symphoniae sacrae II'' for soprano, two unspecified instruments and basso continuo.<ref name="Carus 344" />
== SWV 426 ==
Schütz composed ''Meine Seele erhebt den Herren'', SWV 426 for four-part choir and basso continuo.<ref name="Carus 426" /> It was published in 1657 by Christoph Kittel as part of the collection ''Zwölf geistliche Gesänge'' (Twelve sacred songs), intended for "Gottes Ehren und Christlichen nützlichen Gebrauch / in Kirchen und Schulen" (God's honours and Christian use in churches and schools).<ref name="Zwölf" />
== SWV 468 ==
Schütz composed the sacred concerto ''Magnificat anima mea'', SWV 468 (also called the ''Uppsala Magnificat'') in 1665 for double SATB choir, SATB soloists (''Favoritchor''), three trombones, two violins, organ, and basso continuo. The double SATB choir can be rendered by voices and instruments, or by instruments alone.<ref name="Carus 468" /> Craig Smith describes the work's "dazzling color".<ref name="Smith" />
== SWV 494 ==
thumb|upright|Schütz, c. 1650–60, by Christoph Spetner Schütz composed ''Meine Seele erhebt den Herren'', SWV 494, in 1669 for two four-part choirs, instruments and basso continuo.<ref name="Dickey" /> It was published in the composer's last collection ''Des Königs und Propheten Davids 119. Psalm in 11 Stücken (Opus ultimum)'' (The 119th psalm by king and prophet David in 11 pieces (last work)).<ref name="Carus 494" /> This work, consisting of an elaborate setting in eleven movements of Psalm 119 combined with an earlier setting of Psalm 100 and the ''Magnificat'', was intended by Schütz to be his final work and is therefore also called ''Schwanengesang'' (Swan Song).<ref name="Carus Schütz" /><ref name="Gesellschaft" /><ref name="Range" /> The original title reads "Königs und Propheten Davids Hundert und Neunzehender Psalm in Eilf Stükken nebenst dem Anhange des 100. Psalms: Jauchzet dem Herrn! und Eines deutschen Magnificats: Meine Seele erhöbt den Herrn". (King and prophet David's 119th psalm in eleven pieces with the appendix of the 100th psalm "Rejoice in the Lord!" and a German Magnificat).<ref name="Veen" />
Schütz composed the work in Weißenfels, where he had bought a house at Nicolaigasse 13 to spend his retirement.<ref name="House" /> The house was reopened in 2012 as a memorial site for the composer.<ref name="Memorial" /> Schütz dedicated the work to Johann Georg II of Saxony, but it was possibly not performed in his presence. Contemporaries knew the work already as ''Schwanengesang''.<ref name="Range" /> Two of the eight vocal parts, soprano and tenor of choir II, are missing.<ref name="Smith" /> The organ part was found in the mid 1970s and made an edition with a reconstruction of the two missing voices possible. In 1985, the 400th anniversary of the composer's birth, the work was performed again.<ref name="Range" />
The setting is in one movement, alternating between duple meter and, more often, triple meter, frequently ending a phrase with hemiolas. It does not use the plainchant associated with the ''Magnificat''. On phrases such as "lowliness of His handmaiden" or "cast down from their seats", the composer reduces the number of voices. According to musicologist Timothy Dickey, the final ''Amen'' "remains shockingly straightforward and simple. Schütz's hymn of thanksgiving for God's mercy ends in confidence, without undue artifice."<ref name="Dickey" /> Smith describes it as "austere and understated" and says that it "is permeated with the quiet ecstasy of that remarkable text".<ref name="Smith" />
== Publication and recordings ==
The works are part of the complete edition of the composer's works by Carus-Verlag, begun in 1992 in continuation of the Stuttgart Schütz Edition and planned to be completed by 2017. The edition uses the ''Heinrich-Schütz-Archiv'' of the Hochschule für Musik Dresden. It is combined with complete recordings by the Dresdner Kammerchor conducted by Hans-Christoph Rademann.<ref name="Edition" />
== References ==
<references>
<ref name="Dickey">{{cite web | last = Dickey | first = Timothy | url = https://www.allmusic.com/composition/meine-seele-erhebt-den-herren-for-double-chorus-continuo-german-magnificat-der-schwanengesang-swv-494-mc0002383824 | title = Heinrich Schütz / Meine Seele erhebt den Herren, for double chorus & continuo ("German Magnificat," Der Schwanengesang), SWV 494 | publisher = Allmusic | access-date = 24 January 2014 }}</ref>
<ref name="Range">{{cite web | last = Range | first = Matthias | url = http://www.mundoclasico.com/ed/documentos/doc-ver.aspx?id=91219cf8-9f46-4355-915c-50855492c77e | title = Schütz – the "Final Work" | publisher = Mundoclasico | date = 28 December 2007 | access-date = 24 January 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140203103208/http://www.mundoclasico.com/ed/documentos/doc-ver.aspx?id=91219cf8-9f46-4355-915c-50855492c77e | archive-date = 3 February 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
<ref name="Smith">{{cite web | last = Smith | first = Craig | authorlink = Craig Smith (conductor) | url = https://emmanuelmusic.org/notes_translations/notes_motets/n_swv494_schutz.htm | title = Heinrich Schütz: "Meine Seele erhebt den Herren (the German Magnificat)," SWV 494 | publisher = Emmanuel Music | access-date = 24 January 2014 }}</ref>
<ref name="Veen">{{cite web | last = Veen | first = Johan van | url = https://www.musica-dei-donum.org/cd_reviews/HarmoniaMundi_HMC901895.96.html | title = Heinrich Schütz (1585–1672): "Opus ultimum – Schwanengesang" | publisher = musica Dei donum | date = 2009 | access-date = 24 January 2014 }}</ref>
<ref name="Carus 344">{{cite web | url = http://www.carus-verlag.com/index.php3?selSprache=1&BLink=KKWerk&WerkID=31890 | title = Heinrich Schütz / Meine Seele erhebt den Herren / aus: Symphonia sacrae II | publisher = Carus-Verlag | access-date = 21 January 2014 }}</ref>
<ref name="Carus 426">{{cite web | url = http://www.carus-verlag.com/index.php3?BLink=KKWerk&WerkID=6323 | title = Heinrich Schütz / Meine Seele erhebt den Herren / aus: Zwölf geistliche Gesänge | publisher = Carus-Verlag | access-date = 22 January 2014 }}</ref>
<ref name="Carus 468">{{cite web | url = http://www.carus-verlag.com/index.php3?selSprache=1&BLink=KKWerk&WerkID=6325 | title = Heinrich Schütz / Uppsala-Magnificat / Sacred concert | publisher = Carus-Verlag | access-date = 22 January 2014 }}</ref>
<ref name="Carus 494">{{cite web | url = http://www.carus-verlag.com/index.php3?BLink=KKWerk&WerkID=6324 | title = Heinrich Schütz / Magnify him! / Meine Seele erhebt den Herrn / Magnificat. Aus: Des Königs und Propheten Davids 119. Psalm in 11 Stücken (Opus ultimum) | publisher = Carus-Verlag | access-date = 22 January 2014 }}</ref>
<ref name="Carus Schütz">{{cite web | url = http://www.carus-verlag.com/index.php3?BLink=Schuetz | title = Heinrich Schütz – Stuttgart Schütz Edition | publisher = Carus-Verlag | access-date = 24 January 2014 }}</ref>
<ref name="Dürer">{{cite web | url = https://www.kritikatur.de/Albrecht_Duerer/Betende_Maria | title = Betende Maria / Albrecht Dürer | publisher = kritikatur.de | access-date = 31 January 2014 }}</ref>
<ref name="Edition">{{cite web | url = http://www.carus-verlag.com/index.php3?BID=139 | title = Heinrich Schütz – Stuttgart Schütz Edition | publisher = Carus-Verlag | accessdate = 24 January 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140203101443/http://www.carus-verlag.com/index.php3?BID=139 | archive-date = 3 February 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
<ref name="Gesellschaft">{{cite web | url = http://www.schuetzgesellschaft.de/hsbiographie.htm | title = Heinrich Schütz 1585–1672 | publisher = Internationale Heinrich-Schütz-Gesellschaft | language = de | access-date = 24 January 2014 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160531142611/http://www.schuetzgesellschaft.de/hsbiographie.htm | archivedate = 31 May 2016 }}</ref>
<ref name="House">{{cite web | url = https://heinrich-schuetz-haus.de/schuetz/spuren.php | title = Auf den Spuren von Heinrich Schütz | publisher = Heinrich-Schütz-Haus | language = de | access-date = 24 January 2014 }}</ref>
<ref name="Memorial">{{cite web | url = http://www.crescendo.de/heinrich-schuetz-haus-weissenfels-wiedereroeffnet-8254189/?doing_wp_cron=1390575859 | title = Heinrich-Schütz-Haus Weißenfels wiedereröffnet | publisher = Crescendo | language = de | access-date = 24 January 2014 }}</ref>
<ref name="Zwölf">{{cite web | url = https://heinrich-schuetz-haus.de/swv/sites/swv_426.htm | title = SWV 426 / Zwölf geistliche Gesänge – Meine Seele erhebt den Herren | publisher = Heinrich-Schütz-Haus | language = de | access-date = 22 January 2014 }}</ref>
</references>
{{Heinrich Schütz}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Magnificat Schutz}} Category:Compositions by Heinrich Schütz Schutz