Heinrich Schütz

Symphonies for brass quintet

Heinrich Schütz did not compose any independent instrumental works during his life; he never commented on his motives. Perhaps he was so intensely occupied with the musical interpretation of the biblical word that other things seemed secondary to him.

However, he furnished a number of larger vocal concertos, psalms and other occasional compositions with 'symphonies', instrumental introductions and interludes, scored for violins, tines, trombones, bassoons and violas. This edition provides brass for the symphonies (symphonies) originally scored with strings; either two trumpets, horn, trombone and tuba or two trumpets and three trombones. This seems justified, since an instrument-specific writing style had not yet developed.

The original four voices were either divided among five instruments or a fifth voice was added motivically. To accommodate performance by brass, the pieces were transposed down a whole tone. The symphonies are taken from the secular madrigals 'Nachdem ich lag in meinem öden Bette' (SWV451) and 'Lasst Salomon sein Bette nicht umgeben' (SWV452). They should each be performed together, quasi-suite-like.

The suggested tempo and articulation indications may serve as hints for the performance.

Klaus Winkler

This edition contains the following parts:
1st part in Bb
2nd part in Bb
3rd part in Eb/F
3rd part in C/Bb
4th part in C/Bb
5th part in C/Bb.