Motet notes - Schütz

While it is the shortest of all of the 1619 Psalmen Davids, "Zion  Spricht" shows the young Schütz at his most inventive. The massive  grandeur of the work is achieved by elaborate echo effects that permeate  the dense texture of the work. How interesting to contrast this mighty  work with the equally impressive very delicate setting written at the  same time by Schütz great colleague Johann Hermann Schein. Each knew, no  doubt, the other's setting of these words and, considering the high regard they had for each other, appreciated their qualities.