A German Baroque Requiem

ntrospection and hope through the German Baroque

Ein deutsches Barockrequiem introduces us to the sacred German music of the 17th and early 18th centuries, exploring composers such as Scharmann, Selle, Schein, Geist, Hammerschmidt and Förtsch. Lionel Meunier and Vox Luminis propose a programme that combines homophony and polyphony, vocal ornaments and contrapuntal refinement, creating a discourse where death, consolation and hope merge into sound.

Inspired by Heinrich Schütz's Musikalische Exequien and with a nod to Brahms' well-known Ein deutsches Requiem, the repertoire alternates solemnity and moments of contemplation, harmonic modulations and imitative textures. The lesser-known works, carefully revived, offer an emotional journey that connects the German Baroque tradition with later sensibilities, anticipating the expressive depth that would inspire Brahms centuries later. Meunier has conceived this Requiem as a journey from introspection to hope.

On the afternoon of Holy Saturday, the Carme Church at the Castle of Peralada will host an intense and meditative sound experience, where each vocal line and word is articulated with clarity, resonating with the beauty of a Teutonic Baroque often unexplored on stage.

Program and cast

Programme

Andreas SCHARMANN (1644 – 1675)

Gedenke, Herr, wie es uns gehet

Thomas SELLE (1599 – 1663)

Sinfonia Und da der Sabbath vergangen war

Johann Hermann SCHEIN (1586 – 1630)

Selig sind, die da geistlich arm sind

Christian GEIST (1650 – 1711)

Die mit Tränen säen

Tobias MICHAEL (1592 – 1657)

Die Erlöseten des Herren Wolfgang

Carl BRIEGEL (1626 – 1712)

Ach, Herr, lehre doch mich

Andreas HAMMERSCHMIDT (1611? - 1675)

Ach wie gar nichts sind alle Menschen

Heinrich SCHWEMMER (1621 – 1696)

Die Gerechten Seelen sind in Gottes Hand

Johann Hermann SCHEIN

Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen

... Ich will schweigen

Andreas HAMMERSCHMIDT

Der Tod ist verschlungen

Johann Philipp FÖRTSCH (1652 – 1732)

Selig sind die Toten

Artistic details

VOX LUMINIS

Lionel MEUNIER, musical director