HEINRICH SCHÜTZ: MUSIKALISCHE EXEQUIEN 

The Newton Choral Society season concludes with the exquisite Musikalische Exequien, which Schütz composed for the funeral of his friend and patron Prince Heinrich Posthumus Reuss.  A well-respected humanist and devout Lutheran, Reuss carefully organized the details of his own funeral in advance.

Schutz combines Renaissance elements with those of the early Baroque period, which he learned studying in Italy under Gabrielli and Monteverdi. The texts, from casket panels designed by the prince himself, focus on God’s mercy, comfort for the grieving, and hope for redemption. Two and a half centuries later, Johannes Brahms would adopt the structure and many of the texts for his choral masterpiece, Ein Deutsches Requiem (“A German Requiem”).

Soloists: Susan Consoli , soprano

Deborah Rentz-Moore, mezzo

Clare McNamara, alto