Easter Oratorio

work by Schütz

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June 17, 2026

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Heinrich Schütz's Easter Oratorio is a significant work in the development of the German oratorio tradition. Published in 1664, it is a large-scale musical composition for soloists, choir, and instruments, based on a sacred subject. Schütz's oratorios, including this one, are noted for their emotional depth and vigorous treatment of choruses, anticipating the style of Johann Sebastian Bach.12

In this oratorio, Schütz maintained the convention of assigning the words of each character to multiple voices. The work balances austerity with exuberance, showcasing Schütz's dramatic sense and his ability to blend Italian musical styles with German feeling.12

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oratorio
The golden age of oratorio: 1600–c. 1750
In his Easter Oratorio (published 1623) Schütz retains the old convention of setting the words of each character for two or more voices. His oratorios achieve a balance between austerity and exuberance, but by the late 17th century this balance had been disturbed. Passion oratorio texts (dealing…
Read More
In his Easter Oratorio (published 1623) Schütz retains the old convention of setting the words of each character for two or more voices. His oratorios achieve a balance between austerity and exuberance, but by the late 17th century this balance had been disturbed. Passion oratorio texts (dealing…
Read More