A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z 
Andreas Raselius
c.1563 - 1602
Germany
No picture
A. Raselius
Andreas Raselius, also known as Andreas Rasel (ca. 1563 – 06/01/1602) was a German composer and Kapellmeister or Maestro di Cappella during the Renaissance. He worked for a great part of his career as a teacher and cantor in Regensburg. After that in1600 the last part of his life Raselius was appointed as a court conductor of the Elector Paletine (Elector of the Palatinate (In German: Kurfürst von der Pfalz) more specific count Frederick IV (1574-1610) in Heidelberg who reigned over the Counts Palatine of the Rhine. Raselius is today best known as the author of a cycle of motets (in German language) for use throughout the year. It is the first known cycle to be composed in the German language, which was published in 1594. Raselius's work shows evidence of both South-Netherlandish and native German influences, but his compositions of 1595 show that he had thoroughly studied the polychoral and polyphonic techniques of Italy.
Author:Wim Goossens
Si iniquitates observaveris
Period:High Renaissance
Composed in:1589
Musical form:Motet six vocum inaequalium
Text/libretto:Officium defunctorum
“Si iniquitates observaveris” is a short antiphon sung in the Exsequiarum Ordo (the order of the funeral) and published in the Liber Usualis (edition 1936) p. 1763. This Antiphon is sung too in the Officium Defunctorum, office of the dead and published in the Liber Usualis (edition 1936) page 1774. The text is taken out a slightly part of Psalm 129/130, which is in both places prayed before this Antiphon. Raselius sets this antiphon for six voices CSATQB in a homophonic way and low texture. Raselius starts with two three-part choirs, choir I, TQB Ms 1-4 and choir II, CSA Ms 4-6 with an identical musical phrase in each choir but an octave higher in Choir II which will merge together in Ms 7. Raselius uses some fine dissonant (Ms 3 and Ms 6), uses flats and very often change of the key. To underline some words “ sustinuit anima mea” Raselius sets full chords in different key F and Bes in Ms 16 and Ms 19. At the end of this Antiphon Ralesius underlines with word-painting the word “Dominus” in Ms 36-37. In nearly all voices except Sextus and Bassus, Ralesius sets a lot of descending and ascending eighth-notes. The original text of this antiphon consists out of two sentences, the added words by Raselius have been placed by us between brackets. This antiphon contains in total 39 measures and is set in B Mixolydian and is found in Dodechachordi vivi, in quo 12 modorum musicorum exempla duodena, 4–6vv (MS, Regensburg, Bischöfliche Zentralbibliothek, Proske-Musikbibliothek 1589).
Author:Wim Goossens
Text of this Antiphon:
Si iniquitates observaveris, Domine,
Domine, quis sustinebit?
[Sustinuit anima mea in verbo ejus:
Speravit anima mea in Domino]

Translation:
If You, O Lord, will take note of anger:
Lord, who could withstand?
[My soul has relied on His word:
my soul has hoped in the Lord.]
Contributor:Wim Goossens