Motet notes - Schütz

The first four verses of Psalm 120 are a rich source of color and character for Schütz. His setting of these lines in "Ad dominum" is one of the most expressive and "Italian" of his Latin motets published in 1624 as Cantiones Sacrae. Notice the hair-raising chromaticism on the words "Lying lips." And the "hot" harmony at the words "burning coals."