Lieblich und schöne sein ist nichts: Motet No.11 from Israelsbrünnlein

Schein Lieblich und schöne sein ist nichts: Motet No.11 from Israelsbrünnlein

Johann Hermann Schein (1586 – 1630), a German composer and poet, was an important predecessor of Bach taking up the post of Thomaskantor in Leipzig in 1616 where he remained until his death.  A gifted composer he was one of the first to import the Italian style onto the traditional elements of Lutheran church music.

The "Israelsbrünnlein" from 1623 is a collection composed in the Italian madrigal style mostly using texts from the Old Testament.