Johann Hermann Schein: Spiritual Concerto: Blessed are the spiritually poor (1626)
Johann Hermann Schein
born 20 Jan jul / 30 Jan 1586 greg. in Grünhain, Germany
died 19 Nov jul / 29 Nov 1630 greg. in Leipzig
From:
‘Opella Nova, Ander Theil
Sacred Concerts
with 3. 4. 5. and 6. parts together with the general bass, Composed on the Italian Invention now in use / By Johan-Herman Schein / ... (Leipzig 1626)’
Instrumentation:
CCATB, with instruments: Cornetto, Traversa, Trombona I/II, Fagotto, Continuo.
Alternating strings/winds in the capella.
Text: Matthew 5,3-12, German: Luther Bible 1545
As central as the so-called Beatitudes were to the thinking and philosophy of Jesus from Nazareth, they were received very little by church music and the liturgies of the Western churches. Even as an oratorio in the concert hall, only César Franck's ‘Les Béatitudes’ follows this revolutionary text, albeit somewhat romantically harmonised. Yet this authentically transmitted text pleads for a turning point in the orientation of life and the organisation of human societies. It is not the experiences of the kleptocratic rich and consumerist happiness-seekers that have a future. On the contrary, the experiences of the disadvantaged should be at the centre of attention, because it is these experiences that will have a future for society and the life of humanity.
One of the rare settings of the Beatitudes in the history of music was written by the early Baroque composer and Leipzig Thomaskantor Johann Hermann Schein (1586 - 1630), one of J.S. Bach's predecessors in Leipzig.
His extensive oeuvre ranges from love songs (e.g. the first publication ‘Venus Kräntzlein..., five-part from 1609), wedding and hymnal songs, sacred concertos to death songs.He introduced the new concertante style, i.e. new original and colourful combinations of instruments, to choral music.His vocal-instrumental concerti from the collection Opella Nova I+II, which also includes his setting of the Beatitudes composed after 1626, are influenced by Venetian choral music.Published by the author, and to be found at the schools of St Thomas there.M. DC.XXVI (Leipzig 1626)’
Listen here ( 7 1/2 Min.)!
Listening companion:
1
This sacred concerto begins very simply and ‘poorly’: a solo soprano sings the ‘Blessed are...’ motif in the empty fifth. A second solo soprano immediately enters in a canonic offset. Together they embellish the words ‘spiritually poor’.
The five-part choir and accompanying instruments respond with full-sounding jubilation and affirm the promise of a new future, twice over.
2
Now the alto solo and tenor solo take over the ‘Blessed are...’ motif in a perceptibly darker colouring, and the emphasis is now on bearing sorrow, on those who mourn.
The choir and instruments respond in a subdued mood with the prospect of coming consolation.
3
The alto, tenor and bass begin the third beatitude in three voices with the ‘Blessed are...’, counterpointed slightly differently in order to harmonise with the new attitude of meekness.
Nevertheless, the choir and instruments rejoice with a view to the earthly future: they will possess the earth.
4
The following beatitude, which is central to the content, is sung by the three female voices alone and changes the ‘Blessed are’ motif twice to emphasise the hunger and thirst for justice.
The choir, accompanied by instruments, responds simply and convincingly, carried by the prospect of a coming fulfilment.
5
The solo tenor begins in a new key and harmony, followed by the alto and second soprano with an ascending new ‘Blessed are’ motif.
The choir and instruments promise mercy, whereby the word ‘erlangen’ is explicitly emphasised with an ornament.
6
Accompanied by a rich basso continuo, the bass and tenor solo now endeavour to achieve an existence of a pure heart, which - as the composition makes clear - does not seem so easy to achieve.
The answer to this - from the choir and its instruments - sounds confident and full of hope, in any case concise and convincing.
7
As at the very beginning, it is now the turn of the two solo sopranos to praise the peacemakers with a jubilant version of ‘Selig-sind...’.
The choir and accompanying instruments jubilantly join in.
8
The solo bass joins the two female voices in the following beatitude. The ‘Blessed are...’ is now repeated conspicuously often, because the point is that those persecuted for the sake of justice are strengthened in their plight.
The prospect of a fairer world, which the choir and instruments urgently promise, is also intended to encourage the current commitment to justice.
9
For encouragement, all the choral voices - entering one after the other and linked together canonically - now perform together and are reinforced by the accompanying instruments. The persecuted are addressed directly and many times: Blessed are you! The choral voices know what all kinds of evil rumours and lies (fake news!) can do. All this must be endured.
At the end, everyone joins in with five voices to delight those who are now orientated towards justice and the values that make us happy with early baroque splendour.
Selig sind, die da geistlich arm sind; denn das Himmelreich ist ihr.
Selig sind, die da Leid tragen; denn sie sollen getröstet werden.
Selig sind die Sanftmütigen; denn sie werden das Erdreich besitzen.
Selig sind, die da hungert und dürstet nach der Gerechtigkeit; denn sie sollen satt werden.
Selig sind die Barmherzigen; denn sie werden Barmherzigkeit erlangen.
Selig sind, die reines Herzens sind; denn sie werden Gott schauen.
Selig sind die Friedfertigen; denn sie werden Gottes Kinder heißen.
Selig sind, die um Gerechtigkeit willen verfolgt werden; denn das Himmelreich ist ihr.
Selig seid ihr, wenn euch die Menschen um meinetwillen schmähen und verfolgen und reden allerlei Übles gegen euch, so sie daran lügen.
Seid fröhlich und getrost; es wird euch im Himmel wohl belohnt werden.
Blessed are those who are spiritually poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for what is right, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for what is right, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when men revile and persecute you for my sake and speak all kinds of evil against you when they lie about it.
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