Scheidt, Samuel

Scheidt, Samuel

(born 1587, Halle, Saxony—died March 24, 1654, Halle) German composer. After study in Amsterdam with Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, he returned to his native Halle and spent his entire life there in various musical offices, including court organist and later kapellmeister to the Margrave of Brandenburg. He wrote much sacred vocal music in both German and Latin, including Geistliche Concerte (1631–40). His chief work for keyboard (mostly organ) was Tabulatura nova (1624), written in open score rather than traditional organ tablature. The collection contains fantasias, toccatas, “echo pieces,” organ responses for liturgical use, and, most important, variations on chorale melodies.