October 5, 2015.Heinrich Schütz.Giuseppe Verdi and Camille Saint-Saëns were born this week: Verdi on October 9th of 1813, and Saint-Saëns on the same day but in 1835.We’ve written about both of them a number of times.There’s another composer whose anniversary is also celebrated this week, and though he’s very important in the history of music, we’ve never had a chance to write about him.The composer’s name is Heinrich Schutz, and he’s one of the most important German Renaissance predecessors of Johann Sebastian Bach. Schütz was born 100 years before Bach, on October 8th of 1585 in Bad Köstritz, Thuringia.When Heinrich was five, his family moved to Weißenfels, where his father inherited an inn and became a burgomaster.Heinrich demonstrated musical talent from a very early age.In 1598, Maurice, the landgrave of Hesse-Kasse, a tiny principality then part of the Holy Roman Empire, stayed overnight in the family inn and heard Heinrich sing.Maurice, who was himself a musician and composer, was so impressed that he invited Heinrich to his court to study music and further his education (while at the court, Heinrich learned several languages, including Latin, Greek and French).Heinrich sung as a choir boy till his voice broke and then went to study law at Marburg.In 1609 he went to Venice to study music with Giovanni Gabrieli.Even though Gabrieli was 28 years older than Schütz, they became close (Gabrieli left him one of his rings when he died).The master died in 1612 and Schütz returned to Kassel.In 1614 the Elector of Saxony asked Schütz to come to Dresden.The famous Michael Praetorius was nominally in charge of music-making at the court but he had other responsibilities, so the elector was interested in Schütz’s service.Schütz moved to Dresden permanently in 1615. In 1619 he received the title of Hofkapellmeister.Soon after he published his first major work, Psalmen Davids (Psalms of David), a collection of 26 settings of psalms influenced, as one can hear, by Gabrieli. Here’s Psalm 128, “Wohl dem, der den Herren fürchte.”Cantus Cölln and Concerto Palatino are conducted by Konrad Junghänel.
Schütz lived in Dresden for the rest of his life, making periodic extended trips: in 1628 he went to Venice where he met Claudio Monteverdi who became a big influence.He also made several trips to Copenhagen, composing for the royal court.Schütz lived a long life: he died on November 6th of 1672 at the age of 87. Schütz composed mostly sacred choral music, although in 1627 he wrote what is considered the first German opera, Dafne.Unfortunately, even though the libretto survived, the score was lost many years ago. In 1636 Schütz wrote music for the funeral service of Count Henry II of Reuss-Gera called Musikalische Exequien.Here’s the last section, Canticum.English Baroque Soloists and Monteverdi Choir are conducted by John Eliot Gardiner.
Heinrich Schütz, 2015
October 5, 2015. Heinrich Schütz. Giuseppe Verdi and Camille Saint-Saëns were born this week: Verdi on October 9th of 1813, and Saint-Saëns on the same day but in 1835. We’ve written about both of them a number of times. There’s another composer whose anniversary is also celebrated this week, and though he’s very
important in the history of music, we’ve never had a chance to write about him. The composer’s name is Heinrich Schutz, and he’s one of the most important German Renaissance predecessors of Johann Sebastian Bach. Schütz was born 100 years before Bach, on October 8th of 1585 in Bad Köstritz, Thuringia. When Heinrich was five, his family moved to Weißenfels, where his father inherited an inn and became a burgomaster. Heinrich demonstrated musical talent from a very early age. In 1598, Maurice, the landgrave of Hesse-Kasse, a tiny principality then part of the Holy Roman Empire, stayed overnight in the family inn and heard Heinrich sing. Maurice, who was himself a musician and composer, was so impressed that he invited Heinrich to his court to study music and further his education (while at the court, Heinrich learned several languages, including Latin, Greek and French). Heinrich sung as a choir boy till his voice broke and then went to study law at Marburg. In 1609 he went to Venice to study music with Giovanni Gabrieli. Even though Gabrieli was 28 years older than Schütz, they became close (Gabrieli left him one of his rings when he died). The master died in 1612 and Schütz returned to Kassel. In 1614 the Elector of Saxony asked Schütz to come to Dresden. The famous Michael Praetorius was nominally in charge of music-making at the court but he had other responsibilities, so the elector was interested in Schütz’s service. Schütz moved to Dresden permanently in 1615. In 1619 he received the title of Hofkapellmeister. Soon after he published his first major work, Psalmen Davids (Psalms of David), a collection of 26 settings of psalms influenced, as one can hear, by Gabrieli. Here’s Psalm 128, “Wohl dem, der den Herren fürchte.” Cantus Cölln and Concerto Palatino are conducted by Konrad Junghänel.
Schütz lived in Dresden for the rest of his life, making periodic extended trips: in 1628 he went to Venice where he met Claudio Monteverdi who became a big influence. He also made several trips to Copenhagen, composing for the royal court. Schütz lived a long life: he died on November 6th of 1672 at the age of 87. Schütz composed mostly sacred choral music, although in 1627 he wrote what is considered the first German opera, Dafne. Unfortunately, even though the libretto survived, the score was lost many years ago. In 1636 Schütz wrote music for the funeral service of Count Henry II of Reuss-Gera called Musikalische Exequien. Here’s the last section, Canticum. English Baroque Soloists and Monteverdi Choir are conducted by John Eliot Gardiner.