Samuel Scheidt

4-Part Instrumental Movements

Samuel Scheidt, baptized on 3.11.1587 in Halle an der Saale, died on 24.3.1654 also in Halle, studied with the great Dutch organ master Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck in Amsterdam. Scheidt had close relations with Michael Praetorius and Johann Hermann Schein. In addition to other compositions, he published his best-known work "Tabulatura nova" in three volumes in 1624, a milestone in the history of organ music.In 1628 he took over the office of municipal "director musices" in Halle, which had been created especially for him, which opened up a glamorous time for him. But after his release, he fell into great hardship during the Thirty Years' War and finally died lonely and forgotten. His main significance certainly lies in his organ works, which made him the most important organ master between Frescobaldi and Johann Sebastian Bach.

The collection "Ludi musici" is one of Scheidt's secular works. It is a reflection of the court music of the time and contains "Paduana, Galliarda, Couranta, Intrada, Canzonetto. From this, the present anthology with 9 quartets has been compiled.

In addition to this volume of 4-part instrumental movements, there is also a volume of 5-part instrumental movements by Samuel Scheidt.