Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672) was a German composer and organist, widely regarded as the greatest German composer before Bach. Born in Köstritz, he studied in Venice with Giovanni Gabrieli and later served at the Dresden court.

His works include sacred concertos, motets, psalm settings, passions and dramatic sacred music. Collections such as the Psalmen Davids and Symphoniae sacrae show his mastery of both German text and Italian style.

Schütz’s music combines expressive declamation, contrapuntal craft and a deep understanding of sacred drama. He helped bring the Venetian concertato style into German musical life.

His career spanned the devastation of the Thirty Years’ War, and his music often has the gravity of faith under pressure. Schütz gave German sacred music its first great cathedral of sound.