Die sieben Worte Jesu Christi am Kreuz (The Seven Last Words of Christ / 1645 Schütz), oratorio
Die sieben Worte Jesu Christi am Kreuz <German> / The Seven Last Words of Christ (1645) is an oratorio by Heinrich Schütz (mus.).
Abstract
The oratorio was written in Weissenfels around 1645 and revised in 1657. Schütz set the text of the biblical words in their context, framed by two stanzas from Johann Böschenstein (1472–1539)'s hymn "Da Jesus an dem Kreuze stund", as an oratorio or Passion cantata. He scored it for five voices (SATTB), five instrumental parts and continuo.
Editions, performances, recordings
Published in Dresden, Germany: 1664.
The work was first recorded in 1966 by Archiv: Peter Schreier and Theo Adam soloed with the Dresdner Kreuzchor under Rudolf Mauersberger. It was again recorded for Naxos in 2001 along with other sacred music by Schütz, conducted by Wolfgang Helbich. In 2012 the Dresdner Kammerchor recorded the work, along with Passions by Schütz, with soloists and a viol choir conducted by Hans-Christoph Rademann.