Heinrich Schütz

Heinrich Schütz (October 9, 1585 – November 6, 1672) was a German composer and organist, generally regarded as the most important German composer before Johann Sebastian Bach and is often considered to be one of the most important composers of the 17th century along with Claudio Monteverdi. He wrote what is thought to be the first German opera, Dafne, performed at Torgau in 1627; however, the music has since been lost.

Life

Schütz was born in Köstritz; his musical talents were discovered by Moritz von Hessen-Kassel in 1599. After being a choir-boy he went on to study law at Marburg before going to Venice from 1609-1613 to study music with Giovanni Gabrieli. He subsequently had a short stint as organist at Kassel before moving to Dresden in 1615 to work as court composer to the Elector of Saxony.

Related Topics:
Köstritz - Moritz von Hessen-Kassel - 1599 - Choir - Law - Marburg - Venice - 1609 - 1613 - Music - Giovanni Gabrieli - Organist - Kassel - Dresden - 1615 - Elector - Saxony

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He held his Dresden post until the end of his life (sowing the seeds of what is now the Dresden Staatskapelle while there), but left Dresden itself on several occasions; in 1628 he went to Venice again, most likely meeting Claudio Monteverdi there—he may have studied with him—and in 1633, after the Thirty Years' War had disrupted life at the court, he took a post at Copenhagen. He returned full time to Dresden in 1641, and remained there for the rest of his life. He died from a stroke in 1672 at the age of 87.

Related Topics:
Dresden Staatskapelle - 1628 - Claudio Monteverdi - 1633 - Thirty Years' War - Copenhagen - 1641 - Stroke - 1672

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