Teutoniam dudum belli

Henrich Schütz

Teutoniam dudum Belli, SWV 338

5vv (SSATB) + 2 violins, basso continuo
First published: 1641 in Geistlicher Concerten, Ander Theil (Ambrosius Profe), no. 24. Printer Henning Köler, Leipzig. Ambrosius Profe was the compiler, editor.

Generally considered to have been written for the same ceremony as the syncharma musicum: the oath of loyalty of the Silesian Princes to Johann Georg I in november 1621 in Breslau . The publisher (Ambrosius Profe, from Breslau) announced on the title page that some of the pieces have an 'alternative text'. And indeed, this is one has: Below the original text (about peace for Silesia) he prints a 'song for Easter'. Author unknown. Although generally assumed, there is no reason/indication that Schütz provided the text. It's 20 years later, and many were capable of writing such a text.

Both text, I publish below, with a translation. As in Syncharma Musicum : 5 disticha consisting of an hexameter and a pentameter. Both the text and the music sound less political. Noteworthy: the repetetion (almost a 'refrain') of the phrase ending with milla gaudia... Quite virtuosos passages.

Latin	English
Teutoniam dudum belli atra pericla molestant, Omnibus o bona pax gaudia mille ferat. Laetentur cives patulo gens omnis in orbe In patria dulci prosperitate nova. Tota Slesis resonet, resonet jam tota Budorgis*, Omnibus o bona pax gaudia mille ferat. Turba novem Silium (not filium**) nova cantica cantet, Apollo aureolo resonum pectine pulset ebur, exclamant passim Charites hominesque venusti: Omnibus o bona pax, gaudia mille ferat.	For a while war's dark dangers troubled Germany: To all, o good peace, bring a thousand joys. May all citizens, peoples, region-wide, enjoy the new prosperity in their fatherland. May all of Silesia and Budorgis now resound: To all, o good peace, bring a thousand joys. let the band of 9 (Muses) sing new songs about Silesia, let Apollo, with his golden quill, pluck the ivory lyre and the Graces all around and the best of men cry out: To all, o good peace, bring a thousand joys.
Alternate text Adveniunt pascha pleno concelebranda triumpho. Inclytus hic dies est, gaudia mille ferens. Nunc totus gaudet populus, nunc bruta per orbem Innumerum ludunt luxuriosa novum. Omne solum resonat, jam totus Olympus: Inclytus his dies est, gaudia mille ferens. Et chorus angelicus nova cantica cantet, et ante aera non solito carmine mulcet ovans, respondet passim juvenumque senumque caterva: Inclytus hic dies est, gaudia mille ferens.	Alternate text Easter is coming: le'ts celebrate full of triumph: Glorious is this day, bringing a thousand joys. Now all people rejoice, all creatures play, delighting, throughout the vast, renewed earth. May the whole earth, yes all of Olympus, resound, Glorious is this day, bringing a thousands joys. And may the angelic chorus sing new songs, and first with a super song appease the air, rejoicing: From all around the crowd of young and old replies: Glorious is this day, bringing thousands joys.

NB:
* Budorgis = name of a city in Ptolemaeus Geographica (daar Boudoris, of Boudorigis) ergens te localiseren in 'magna Germania'. In de nieuwe tijd poogde men in Silezië aan te tonen dat men niet tot de 'barbaarse volken' behoorde, maar een respectabele traditie had. Het bestaan van een stad in die regio (vanaf 1504 geïdentificeerd met Breslau) aan het begin van de jaartelling, duidt op civilisatie. Zo ontstaat een 'oorsprongsmythe' en een 'nationaal gevoel'. De volgende stap was Silesie met Elisië (de Elysese velden, paradijselijk vredig) te identificeren. Dit woordspel neemt Schütz op in de eerste regel van Syncharma Musicum.

** Cantus and Tenor read 'filium'. This however makes no sense. The Altus read 'Silium' (one of the Latin forms to describe of Silesia). This makes sense. Evidence: