Hammerschmidt: Geistlicher Dialogen Ander Theil

Andreas Hammerschmidt's Geistlicher Dialogen Ander Theil (1645) is a collection of fifteen sacred lieder for one to three voices, two to three instruments, and continuo, twelve of which use texts from Martin Opitz's paraphrase of the Song of Songs. With its overtly erotic content and covert spiritual meaning, the Song of Songs had long been a popular choice of text for musical treatment. Hammerschmidt is one of the few composers to approach Opitz's poetry in a systematic way with the intention of setting the entire collection. Arguably one of the most popular and widely heard German composers of his generation, Hammerschmidt writes in a simple yet subtle style appropriate for private and amateur performance. The vocal and instrumental parts are naturally undemanding and could easily be attempted by students. This apparent simplicity should not belie the music its charms and the possibility of tasteful variation in performance. The present contribution makes Hammerschmidt's volume available to modern performers and scholars for the first time.

1. Liebster sagt in süssen Schmertzen

2. Sag O Sonne meiner Seele

3. Wie der güldnen Rosen Zier

4. Komm O Schöne wo ich bin

5. Der mich mehr noch liebt als sich

6. Nachdem ich lag in meinem öden Bette

7. Mein Lieb wie schöne bist doch du

8. Komm Nordwind du / O Sud steh auf

9. Mein Trost auf den ich alles richte

10. Komm Liebste komm / was fleuchst du denn für mir?

11. Wie schöne Füß vnd auch wie schöne Schuh

12. Mein Hertze welche du die stillen Gärte liebest

13. Tugend ist der beste Freund (Aria)

14. Wer Gott das Hertze giebet (Aria)

15. Wenn Gott auf vnsre Lenden (Aria)