Heinrich Schütz

Heinrich Schütz was born exactly 100 years before Johann Sebastian Bach, and just like Bach he had a broad education and composed in various styles and genres. Unlike Bach, Schütz wasn't born to a musical family, and his parents pushed him to study for a "proper profession". However, when he got the chance to study under Giovanni Gabrieli he didn't hesitate for a bit. After a couple of detours, he ended up in Dresden, where he would spent the rest of his life. Schütz reached died at 87 years old, a remarkable age for his time. Sadly, he survived both his wife and his two daughters.  The (almost always vocal) music of Schütz is typical for its time: the text and its meaning are centralised within the music. In his long life, Schütz composer about 500 works. His youthful madrigals, Symphoniae Sacrae, Musikalische Exequien, Weihnachtshistorie and his late passions are particularly noteworthy. Finally, his Kleine geistliche Konzerte contained many small gems, including his final work: the impressive composition on his favourite psalm, no. 119.