Samuel Scheidt

Samual Scheidt (1587-1654) was born in Halle, and after early studies there, he went to Amsterdam to study with the distinguished Dutch composer Sweelinck whose work had a clear influence on his style.
On returning to Halle, Scheidt became court organist, and later Kapellmeister, to the Margrave of Brandenburg. Unlike many German musicians of the time he remained in Germany during the Thirty Years’ War, managing to survive by teaching and by taking a succession of smaller jobs until the restoration of stability allowed him to resume his post as Kapellmeister.