Die Starken bedürfen a 6

The composer Heinrich Hartmann sets words from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 9, verses 12 and 13, in this sacred motet. The text speaks of Jesus’ compassion, stating that the healthy do not need a physician, but the sick. He urges his listeners to learn what it means to desire mercy rather than sacrifice, for he has come to call sinners to repentance, not the righteous. Hartmann’s SSATTB setting allows for a rich exploration of this profound message, with distinct vocal lines creating a complex yet cohesive whole. The German language lends a particular gravitas to this biblical passage.