Classical Music Composers Datebook: October 8
Heinrich Schütz (8 or 9 October 1585 in Koetritz or Loetriz - November 16, 1672 in Dresden) was a German composer and organist, generally regarded as the most important German composer before Johann Sebastian Bach, and one of the most important composers of the 17th century along with Claudio Monteverdi.
At the age of five he moved with his family to Weissenfels. Landgrave Moritz was impressed by Schütz's musical talents that he took him to Kassel where he served as a choirboy; he also studied music with the court Kapellmeister, George Otto.
Initially he was slated to study law however upon the advise of L. Moritz, he abandoned his university studies and went to Venice as a pupil of G. Gabrieli, financially supported by the landgrave. The preceeding years saw him the the employ of various electoral courts.
Schütz wrote what is thought to be the first German opera, Dafne, performed at Torgau, 1627. It is unfortunate that his music has since been lost.
His works are dominated by oratorical pieces and unaccompanied 'dramatic' Passions. His music are largely to German texts, constituting the ultimate realization of Protestant Reformation leader Martin Luther's endeavours to establish the vernacular as a literary and liturgical language that greatly embodies the Protestant and humanistic concept of poetic music (musica poetica) in perhaps its perfect form.
Resource:
Sadie, Stanley, Ed. The Grove Concise Dictionary of Music, New Update Edition. London: Macmillan Publishers, 1994.
Image Credit:
Heinrich Schütz, c. 1650–60 (Leipzig), by Christoph Spetner. Wikimedia Public Domain. Accessed October 6, 2013.
Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672)
German Composer, Organist and ConductorHeinrich Schütz (8 or 9 October 1585 in Koetritz or Loetriz - November 16, 1672 in Dresden) was a German composer and organist, generally regarded as the most important German composer before Johann Sebastian Bach, and one of the most important composers of the 17th century along with Claudio Monteverdi.
At the age of five he moved with his family to Weissenfels. Landgrave Moritz was impressed by Schütz's musical talents that he took him to Kassel where he served as a choirboy; he also studied music with the court Kapellmeister, George Otto.
Initially he was slated to study law however upon the advise of L. Moritz, he abandoned his university studies and went to Venice as a pupil of G. Gabrieli, financially supported by the landgrave. The preceeding years saw him the the employ of various electoral courts.
Schütz wrote what is thought to be the first German opera, Dafne, performed at Torgau, 1627. It is unfortunate that his music has since been lost.
His works are dominated by oratorical pieces and unaccompanied 'dramatic' Passions. His music are largely to German texts, constituting the ultimate realization of Protestant Reformation leader Martin Luther's endeavours to establish the vernacular as a literary and liturgical language that greatly embodies the Protestant and humanistic concept of poetic music (musica poetica) in perhaps its perfect form.
Resource:
Sadie, Stanley, Ed. The Grove Concise Dictionary of Music, New Update Edition. London: Macmillan Publishers, 1994.
Image Credit:
Heinrich Schütz, c. 1650–60 (Leipzig), by Christoph Spetner. Wikimedia Public Domain. Accessed October 6, 2013.
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