Schein, Johann Hermann

Composer

b Grünhain, nr Annaburg (now Annaberg-Bucholz), Saxony (Germany) 1586, d Leipzig, Germany 1630. When the family moved to Dresden following the early death of his father, a Lutheran pastor, the young Schein became a chorister in the court chapel and attended the Schulpforta (Grammar School) in Pforta. He then studied theology and philosophy for 4 years at the Univ of Leipzig, followed by 2 more as private tutor to a family at Weissenfels. For one further year he was Kapellmeister at the court of Duke Ernst (see also under G Neumark) but in 1616 he returned to Leipzig as Cantor and Music Director at St Thomas’ Ch and School, where he stayed for his remaining 14 years. The deaths of his first wife and at least 8 of his 10 children, as well as those of friends and his own illnesses, moved him to write several of his hymns. Issued first on separate broadsheets, these were collected and published with his own tunes in 1627. He enjoyed a close friendship with Heinrich Schütz (1585–1672), who was with his fellow-musician as he lay dying; Schütz was to achieve more through his greater travels and longer life but to their contemporaries the two men were seen as equals. As a musician he was one of the first Lutherans to make use of Italian techniques; his Cantiones Sacrae contained chorales for from 5 to 12 voices; other works were for 3 to 6 voices, and his major work Cantional featured 80 of his own tunes. See also Grove. No.393=831.