Music to Accompany a Departure Set to Heinrich Schütz’s Musikalische Exequiem

Grant Gershon, conductor
Peter Sellars, director
24 singers, conductor, continuo (gamba and portative organ)

Continuing a decades-long collaboration with Peter Sellars, the Los Angeles Master Chorale announces Music to Accompany a Departure, set to the music of Heinrich Schütz’s Musikalische Exequiem (Funeral Music).

Saying goodbye. Being present. One of the most painful aspects of the pandemic is that countless people have been unable to be with their loved ones in their final days, hours and moments of life. Peter Sellars, Grant Gershon and the singers of the L.A. Master Chorale are creating a very personal ceremony of presence and remembering, through the transfixing music of Heinrich Schütz. His Musikalische Exequien was the original “human” requiem, written for a friend in the language of the people. This intimate and emotional work will be presented as a ritual of leave-taking for our time.