Samuel Scheidt Biography

Samuel Scheidt In-depth Biography

The most important works of this organist, organ builder and composer was his "Tabulatura Nova" written in 1624. It is the first open-scored keyboard music published in Germany. It no longer employed the note-name tabulation or the six line staffs used in both Germany and England during that time.He served in Halle, Germany the majority of his life even during the thirty years war and suffering through poverty for a number of years and the plague during the 1630s years later. He was the court Kapellmeister from 1609 until 1620 the duties of which continued once again in 1638. Scheidt} worked with and knew both Shein} and Schutz} with whom he collaborated. These three persona were the leading musical figures of Germany during the early part of the Baroque era. Scheidt} composed in excess of one hundred chorales for organ in four parts and over one hundred madrigals for five voices set to sacred texts. He also scored arrangements for numerous mass movements and instrumental dance movements with only occasional parings all arranged for four or five instruments. ~ Keith Johnson, All Music Guide