Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672)
A quick look at this powerful text suggests where the big musical articulations must be – at "Leben," "Sterben," and "darum." And Schütz does not disappoint in his response. The unusual amount of overlapping and dovetailing of the text-lines responds to the overall philosophical content of the text (in death or life all 'belongs' to the Lord).
©John Harbison