Schütz: Musikalische Exequien

Ealing Choral Society

Join Ealing Choral Society for their spring concert, a meditation on what it means to say goodbye in times of struggle. The luminous music of the Baroque composer Heinrich Schütz serves as the centrepiece for this evening of remembrance and devotion.

Schütz composed the Musikalische Exequien (Music to Accompany a Departure) during the terrible ravages of the 30 Years War, and it was dedicated to the memory of one of his dearest friends and benefactors. Schütz is widely regarded as the greatest German composer before Bach, and the Musikalische Exequien was the first requiem written in the language of the people rather than Latin. The music speaks with both quiet emotion and enormous depth of feeling. This is a vocal work of soaring purity, with solo voices interacting with a constantly shifting combination of choral forces. The programme also includes music by Allegri (Miserere), Carissimi (Jephte) and Monteverdi (Laudate Dominum). With soloists from the choir of the National Musicians’ Church, Holy Sepulchre. Peter Asprey conducts.