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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

 


Biographies of Poets & Composers: Main Page | 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
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Last update: Monday, October 11, 2021 03:51