Johann Hermann Schein (1586–1630) was a significant German composer of the early Baroque era, whose work served as a bridge between the polyphonic vocal styles of the Renaissance and the emerging new music of the seventeenth century. Born in Grünhain, Saxony, he was a contemporary of Heinrich Schütz and both were among the first to absorb the innovations of the Italian Baroque, adapting them to German tastes and Protestant church music. His career was mostly centered in Leipzig, where he served as the Thomaskantor at the St. Thomas Church, a prestigious position that Johann Sebastian Bach would later occupy.

Schein's compositions exhibit a masterful blend of German and Italian styles. He is particularly well-known for his collection 'Israels Brünnlein' (1623), a set of 26 motets that showcase his contrapuntal skill and expressive melodic writing. Moreover, his 'Banchetto musicale' (1617) is a collection of dance suites for five instruments that reveals his command of secular instrumental music. These suites include engaging movements such as the Padouana and Gagliarda, structured in the then-fashionable stylized dance forms. Schein's 'Musica boscareccia' (1621, 1623), instrumental and vocal settings of Italian-style villanellas, also highlight his versatility and the jovial aspect of his compositional output. Despite personal tragedies, including the deaths of his children and wife, and his own ill health, Schein’s impact on the German Baroque style remains indelible, his work heralding the dawn of a new musical epoch.

Genres

Baroque

German Baroque

German Renaissance

Renaissance

Latest Release

Quem Pastores Laudavere - Quempas (Perleberger Fassung)

Michael Praetorius•

Johann Hermann Schein

Single - Released November 23, 2023