July 28th: A commemoration of Heinrich Schütz by Chad Fothergill

In addition to J.S. Bach and G.F. Handel, July 28th is also the commemoration of composer Heinrich Schütz. LSM Cantor Chad Fothergill shares with us the following reflection as well as a hymn recording directly from LSM.

Today, the church commemorates three of its influential musicians: Heinrich Schütz (1585–1672), George Frideric Handel (1685–1759), and Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750). Bach—who died on this date in 1750—wrote cantatas, masses, settings of the Passion, organ and instrumental music, and has been called the “fifth evangelist” for the way he proclaimed the gospel in music. Handel’s most famous oratorio, “Messiah,” is an imaginative setting of scriptural texts. Schütz also set many biblical texts to music; like Bach and Handel, he is known for his vivid “text painting,” or depiction of words and images through music. During the hardships of the Thirty Years’ War, Schütz wrote many pieces for smaller ensembles: likewise, today’s church musicians adapt to the challenges of our time in creative ways.

On July 28, 2018, the LSM community marked this commemoration during evening prayer. A twentieth-century paraphrase of the customary evening canticle, the Magnificat, was sung to a melody by Schütz originally composed for Psalm 121. We are pleased to share a recording of that hymn with you here!

“Sing glory to the Holy One …
… from age to age by all adored!”