The greatest and most original German composer of the 17^th century, Heinrich Schütz, was the first to compose a “German Requiem,” called Musikalische Exequien. It contains some of the most moving and expressive music of the early Baroque, and stands shoulder to shoulder with other Schütz masterpieces on this program, “Songs of Solace,” at the historic Carmel Mission. Motets by Bach and 20^th century master Hugo Distler directly echo the influence of Schütz, born, near Leipzig, exactly 100 years before the Festival’s namesake.