“O Jesu, nomen dulce“ by Heinrich Schütz † Anneliina Rif (soprano) & Tuomas Kourula (theorbo)

An intricate, wonderfully melodious, expressive and reverent motet by Schütz, “O Jesu, nomen dulce“ (SWV 308) from his “Kleine geistliche Konzerte“ 1639, performed by Anneliina Rif (soprano) with Tuomas Kourula (theorbo). The compositional style in this motet lacks all the outward elements of show and pomp, so often evident in even the best Italian sacred compositions, brilliant as they can be. Instead, we get a more quietly contemplative, but not less heartfelt setting of the text - one which may not reveal its riches on the first or second listening, but needs to sink in with time and repeated experience. Performed by Anneliina Rif, soprano, with Tuomas Kourula, theorbo. Filmed in the medieval cathedral of Turku in Finland.