Samuel Scheidt (Composer) - Short Biography

Poets & Composers: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Samuel Scheidt (Composer)
Born: 1587 (baptized: November 3, 1587) - Halle, Germany Died: March 24, 1654 - Halle, Germany
The German composer and organist, Samuel Scheidt, was instructed in music at the local Gymnasium, and by December 1604 had become organist at the Moritzkirche; he remained there until at least April 1607. In 1608-1609 he took time off to study with Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck in Amsterdam. By the end of 1609 he was back in Halle as court organist to the new administrator, Margrave Christian Wilhelm of Brandenburg, There Scheidt was responsible for playing the organ during services and providing secular keyboard music. In 1619 he opened a new organ at Bayreuth in the presence of many princes and musicians, including Michael Praetorius and Heinrich Schütz .Later, he was able to work with Praetorius, Kapellmeister in absentia, and also with Schütz. In late 1619 or early 1620 he was appointed court Kapellmeister, retaining his position as organist. From 1620 to 1625 Scheidt enlarged the court musical establishment to ten instrumentalists and five vocal soloists and published a collection of motets (Cantiones sacrae, 1620); three volumes of instrumental ensemble music (Ludi musici, 1621, 1622, 1624); one volume of large-scale vocal concertos (Concertus sacri, 1622); and the most important collection of his keyboard music, the 3-volume Tabulatura nova (1624). It was also during this period that Scheidt gained a reputation as an expert in organ construction; throughout his life he was often called upon to inspect new instruments. When the margrave left Halle for Denmark in 1625 to support the Protestant cause in the Thirty Years' War, Scheidt was able to keep his position without pay During the next several years fie made his living primarily by teaching; his most famous pupil was Adam Krieger. The city of Halle created the post of director musices for Scheidt in 1628, which carried the responsibility of supplying music for the Marktkirche, the city's most important church. He lost this post in 1630 as the result of a dispute with Christian Gueinz, Rektor of the Gymnasium. In 1636 the plague hit Halle, claiming the lives of his four surviving children. Despite these unfortunate events, Scheidt continued to publish music: the fourth and final volume of his Ludi musici appeared in 1627, the Liebliche Krafft-Blümlein was brought out in 1635, and four volumes of Geistliche Concerte were published between 1631 and 1640. Peace returned to Halle in 1638, and Scheidt fully resumed his position as court Kapellmeister .In 1642 he offered to Duke August of Brunswick a collection of more than 100 sacred madrigals for 5 voices (now lost) and a number of instrumental sinfonias designed as Preludes to vocal music. His last publication, the so-called Görlitzer Tabulatur Buch (1650), contains 100 organ chorales in 4-part harmonizations. Scheidt was one of Germany's most distinguished composers at that time, especially in the field of keyboard music. His three volumes of Tabulatura nova (1624) are a monumental compendium of song and dance arrangements, sets of variations, fantasias, toccatas, fugues and liturgical pieces (often plainsong-based) for the Lutheran Mass and Office. Likewise his four books of Geistliche Konzerte illustrate the ways of elaborating a chorale, fusing declamatory ideas with contrapuntal writing. He also published motets and instrumental dance music.

Source: HOASM Website Contributed by Aryeh Oron (December 2005)
Use of Chorale Melodies in his works
Title	Chorale Melody		Year
Ach Gott und Herr 4-pt setting from the Tabulatur=Buch, SSWV 524	Ach Gott und Herr		1650
Ach Gott und Herr, wie gross und schwer (chorale), STB, bc, SSWV 236	Ach Gott und Herr
Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr', for organ	Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr
4-pt. setting of Allein Gott in der Höh sei Her, SSWV 559	Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr
4-pt. setting of Allein Gott in der Höh sei Her, SSWV 464	Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr
3-pt setting of Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr STB, bc, SSWV 317	Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr
Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, Setting for STB, bc, SSWV 230	Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ
Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, 4-pt. setting, SSWV 473	Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ		1650
Auf meinen lieben Gott a chorale for STB, bc SSWV 213, appeared printed in Geistlicher Concerten…Ander Theil	Auf meinen lieben Gott		1634
4-pt. setting of Auf meinen lieben Gott in Das Görlitzer Tabulaturbuch	Auf meinen lieben Gott		1659
Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir, STB, bc; SSWV 233	Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir		1650
Befiehl du deine Wege, 4-pt. setting	Befiehl du deine Wege (I)		1650
Christ ist erstanden, Setting for STB bc from Geistlicher Concerten … dritter Theil, SSWV 308	Christ ist erstanden		1635
Christ ist erstanden, Setting for 1 Soprano (and bc?), SSWV 462	Christ ist erstanden		1650
Christ lag in Todesbanden, Setting	Christ lag in Todesbanden
Christ unser Herr, 4-pt. setting, SSWV 472	Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam		1650
Christ unser Herr/Ich ruf zu dir (chorale) STB, bc, SSWV 184, in Newe geistliche Concerten … prima pars	Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam		1631
Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam (chorale), STB, bc, SSWV 320, in Geistlicher Concerten … dritter Theil	Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam		1635
Christum wir sollen loben schon (chorale), STB, bc, SSWV 289; S x, 40	Christum wir sollen loben schon
Christum wir sollen loben schon, 2 versions for 4 parts	Christum wir sollen loben schon
Christus der ist mein Leben 4-pt. setting, SSWV 525	Christus, der ist mein Leben
Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt, 4-pt. setting from Tabulatur=Buch	Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt		1650
Puer natus in Bethlehem, 4-pt. setting	Ein Kind geborn zu Bethlehem (Puer natus in Bethlehem)		1650
Puer natus in Bethlehem for 8 voices	Ein Kind geborn zu Bethlehem (Puer natus in Bethlehem)
Ein Kind geborn zu Bethlehem for 6 voices and bc	Ein Kind geborn zu Bethlehem (Puer natus in Bethlehem)
Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag, a 4-pt. setting	Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag		1650
A setting in four parts for organ Es ist das Heil uns kommen her No. 46 from Das Görlitzer Tabulaturbuch	Es ist das Heil uns kommen her		1650
Es woll uns Gott genädig seyn, 4-pt setting, SSWV 498	Es woll uns Gott genädig sein		1650
Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ for Soprano SSWV 135	Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ
Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ , 2 stylo simplici, 4-pt. settings, SSWV 442 (2 versions)	Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ		1650
Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ (chorale), SATB, bc, SSWV 282	Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ
Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ motet for 8 voices contained in Die Mottette vol. I, p. 153, Hänßler, Stuttgart	Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ
Helft mir Gotts Güte preisen, Chorale Prelude for Organ	Helft mir Gotts Güte preisen
Helft mir Gotts Güte preisen, Setting for Soprano, Tenor, Bass + bc SSWV 300	Helft mir Gotts Güte preisen
Herr Christ, der einig Gotts Sohn, 4-pt setting, SSWV 487	Herr Christ, der einge Gottessohn		1650
Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir (chorale), STB, bc, SSWV 321; S xi, 90	Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir		1635
Herr Gott dich loben alle, SSWV 467; S i, 12	Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir		1650
Herr Gott, dich loben wir, a 12 (having 12 parts)	Herr Gott, dich loben wir [The German Tedeum]
Te Deum laudamus, polychoral	Herr Gott, dich loben wir [The German Tedeum]
2 different 4-pt. settings from the Tabulatur=Buch	Herr Jesu Christ, du höchstes Gut		1650
4-pt setting from the Tabulatur-Buch, with an alternate text Herr Jesu Christ, ich weiß gar wohl	Herr Jesu Christ, du höchstes Gut		1650
4-pt Setting of Herr Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht II from the Tabulatur=Buch	Herr Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht		1650
Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott (ant), SATB, SATB, SSWV 8, in Cantiones Sacrae 8 voices	Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott		1620
Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott (ant), SS, 2 instrumentss (SSWV 38); in Cantiones Sacrae 8 voices	Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott		1620
Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott, 4-pt. setting	Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott		1650
O Jesulein süss, for chorus	Komm, heilger Geist, mit deiner Genad
Kommt her zu mir, spricht Gottes Sohn, 4-pt. setting from the Görlitz Tabulaturbuch	Kommt her zu mir, spricht Gottes Sohn		1650
4-pt setting of Lobt Gott, ihr Christen, allzugleich	Lobt Gott, ihr Christen, allzugleich		1650
Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin (chorale, Luke ii.29–32), STB, bc, SSWV 302	Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin
Mit Fried und Freud Tabulatur=Buch, SSWV 452	Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin		1650
Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, Motet for 8 voices (Double Choir) (Cantiones sacrae Nr. 12); SSWV 12	Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, STB and bc, SSWV 279	Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland		1635
Nun komm, der Heyden Heyland, 2 4-pt. settings SSWV 441	Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
Nun laßt uns Gott dem Herren - Ein Danklied für alle Wohltaten Gottes [“A song of gratitude/hank for all of God’s merciful/good deeds”] 4-pt setting from Tabulatur=Buch	Nun laßt uns Gott dem Herren		1650
SSWV 532, a 4-pt. setting of O großer Gott von Macht from his Tabulatur-Buch hundert geistlicher Lieder und Psalmen	O großer Gott von Macht		1650
O Herre Gott dein göttlich Wort, SSWV 513	O Herre Gott, dein göttlich(s) Wort		1650
Vater unser im Himmelreich 3 Canons and a Chorale Prelude for Keyboard SSWV 104, 115, 121, 126	Vater unser im Himmelreich
4-pt Setting from the Tabulatur=Buch, SSWV 471	Vater unser im Himmelreich		1650
Vater unser im Himmelreich (chorale), 8vv; S iv, 144, SSWV 32	Vater unser im Himmelreich
Von Gott will ich nicht lassen, 4-pt setting	Von Gott will ich nicht lassen		1650
Von Gott will ich nicht lassen, Setting for Soprano, Tenor, Bass + bc in Newe geistliche Concerten…prima pars, SSWV 191	Von Gott will ich nicht lassen		1631
Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz 3 different 4-pt. settings	Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz		1650
Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz, (setting unknown)	Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz		1657
Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz for 8 voices (double choir) & bc	Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz
Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz Chorale setting for STB, bc, SSWV 198	Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz
Was mein Gott will, das gscheh allzeit, 4-pt. Setting	Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan [different melody]		1650
Wenn mein Stündlein vorhanden ist 4-pt. setting, SSWV 518	Wenn mein Stündlein vorhanden ist		1650
Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns halt, 4-pt. Setting	Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält		1650
Links to other Sites
HOASM: Samuel Scheidt Organ Composers: Samuel Scheidt Samuel Scheidt Discography Samuel Scheidt - Biography, Discography (Goldberg) Scheidt, Samuel (1587-1654) (Naxos) Samuel Scheidt (Baroque Music) Samuel Scheidt (Karadar)		Werner Icking Music Archive: Samuel Scheidt Samuel Scheidt -- Encyclopædia Britannica San Francisco Bach Choir: Samuel Scheidt The Samuel Scheidt Biography Page on Classic Cat Scheidt, Samuel (1587 - 1654), Germany (Estrella) Heinrich-Schütz-Haus Bad Köstritz: Samuel Scheidt [German]
Bibliography

Poets & Composers: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Back to the Top

Last update: ýMarch 26, 2008 ý10:46:18