Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir(1) 4vv-2

Michael Praetorius’s setting of the German hymn Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir is for SATB choir. The music begins with a powerful, declamatory homophonic statement of the opening phrase, before unfolding into a more contrapuntal texture. The four voices weave together, sometimes in imitation, sometimes moving in parallel motion, to create a rich and resonant sound. The text is a plea for mercy, acknowledging human sinfulness and reliance on God's grace for salvation. Praetorius’s setting powerfully conveys the earnestness and depth of feeling found in Martin Luther’s paraphrase of Psalm 130.