Motet Notes

Heinrich Schütz: "Dulcissime," SWV 67 - Cantiones Sacrae

Our Schütz motet comes from the Cantiones Sacrae, published in 1624. This very Italiante work is a setting from the Meditations of St. Augustine.  These texts always seem to bring out an unusually expressive madrigal like harmonic language in Schütz. In addition, the work is pitched very high with three women's and one men's part. The result is an ethereal but expressive texture quite unique in this composer's works. 

©Craig Smith