Heinrich Schütz (born in Köstritz, October 8th 1585 - died with Dresden, November 6th 1672, in Latin Henricus Sagittarius) is a German Compositeur . He is regarded as the largest German musician before Jean-Sebastien Bach.

Biography

He studied the right to Marbourg before going to Venice where he was the pupil of Giovanni Gabrieli between 1609 and 1612, then of Claudio Monteverdi during a second voyage, twenty years later.

He was starting from 1617 choirmaster to Dresden, with interruptions during the Guerre Thirty Year old, until his death at the 87 years age of an brain attack. He also worked at the court of the king of the Denmark to Copenhagen, where he had taken refuge because of the Thirty Year old war.

Besides he was one of the major actors of the German Baroque music, writing many works on texts in vernacular language. He wrote primarily religious compositions and was the author in 1627 first German opera: Dafne (whose music is lost but whose booklet by the German poet Martin Opitz remains).

Its music was deeply influenced by the Italy in its polychorality. Its compositions became more austere with time, probably partly because of the economic consequences of the Thirty Year old war which did not make it possible any more to play of works of great width.

It seems to remain no profane part, nor even besides instrumental whereas its reputation of organist was large at his time. It substantially influenced the school of organ of Germany of the North, whose most famous representative is Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck.

Sagittarius , “Sagittarius” was its nickname, recalling the paternal inn “To the archer”, who in German says “Zum Schützen” consonant with his own patronym.

Matthias Weckmann and Johann Theile counted among its pupils.

Principal works

• Madrigaux Italian, 1611
• Psalms of David, 1619
• Historia der Auferstehung Christi SWV 50,1623
• Cantiones sacrae, 1625
• Symphoniae Sacrae, 1629,1647 and 1650
• Kleine geistliche Konzerte (Small concerts of sacred music), 1636 and 1639
• Musikalische Exequien (Musical Funerals), 1636
• Geistliche Chormusik , 1648
• Die Sieben Worte Jesu Christi amndt Kreuz SWV 478,1662
• Weihnachts-Historie SWV 435 (Oratorio of Christmas), 1664
• Three passions:
• Matthäuspassion SWV 479,1664
• Lukaspassion SWV 480,1666
• Johannespassion SWV 481,1668
• Magnificat, 1671

Simple: Heinrich Schütz

Random links:

Mars Express | Jeff Beck | Gerald Emmett Casing | Western Fos Provence Tennis shoe | List streets of Haeren