Johann Schein

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Johann Hermann Schein (1586-1630) was a German composer of the early Baroque era. He was one of the first to import the early Italian stylistic innovations into German music, and was one of the most polished composers of the period. Schein was born on 20th January 1586 in Grünhain. On the death of his father, he moved to Dresden, where he joined the choir of the Elector of Saxony as a boy soprano. In addition to singing in the choir, he received a thorough musical training with Rogier Michael, the Kapellmeister, who recognised his extraordinary talent. From 1603 to 1607 he studied at Pforta, and from 1608 to 1612 attended the University of Leipzig, where he studied law in addition to liberal arts. Upon graduating, he was employed briefly by Gottfried von Wolffersdorff as the house music director and tutor to his children; later he became Kapellmeister at Weimar, and shortly thereafter became cantor at Thomasschule zu Leipzig, conducting the Thomanerchor, a post which he held for the rest of his life. Unlike his friend Heinrich Schütz he was afflicted with poor health, and was not to live a happy or long life. His wife died in childbirth, four of his five children died in infancy, and he died in Leipzig on 19th November 1630, having suffered from tuberculosis, gout, scurvy, and a kidney disorder. Schein was one of the first to absorb the innovations of the Italian Baroque - monody, the concertato style, figured bass - and to use them effectively in a German Lutheran c

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