This double-choir motet, like several others by Scheidt included in the present series, is taken from his Cantiones Sacrae Octo Vocum, (Hamburg, 1620). This remarkable collection contains two quite distinct kinds of music: settings of Lutheran hymns such as Ein feste Burg, Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, etc. and Latin motets which are generally in a more Italianate and Catholic style. Like his contemporary Michael Praetorius (see the Michael Praetorius collection ↣), Scheidt assumed that the listeners and performers knew the Lutheran hymns, and this gave him a great freedom to play around with short phrases derived from the chorales; we can find examples of ths practice in the present work.
(Bernard Thomas)
Translation:
The old year is past; we thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, because you have protected us from great danger this year.
And we ask you, eternal Son of the Father of the highest throne, that you will protect the poor Christian folk for evermore.
