Gott b'hüte dich

Leonhard Lechner was a key figure in the development of German secular polyphony in the late Renaissance. Gott b'hüte dich is a four-part madrigal, sung in German, that captures the sorrow of parting. The text expresses deep affection and the pain of imminent separation, with the singer pleading to be kept safe and promising to remember the beloved. The words lament the necessity of leaving, describing it as a cruel twist of fate and acknowledging that the farewell brings tears. Yet, there is a hopeful note of return, with the singer promising to come back within the year, urging the beloved not to grieve too deeply in the meantime. The SATB setting provides a rich texture for this poignant farewell.