Heinrich Scheidemann

German Baroque Composer and Organist

Heinrich Scheidemann (c. 1595 – 1663) was a prominent German composer of the early Baroque era, particularly known for his organ music. He was a key figure in the North German organ school and studied with the famous Dutch composer Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, which greatly influenced his compositional style. Scheidemann served as the principal organist at the Katharinenkirche (St. Catherine's Church) in Hamburg, a position he held from 1629 until his death. During his tenure, he contributed significantly to the development of the chorale prelude and the use of the organ in liturgical settings. His works are considered important in the evolution of keyboard music in Northern Europe, and he played a role in shaping the music of later composers, including Dieterich Buxtehude and Johann Sebastian Bach. Although Scheidemann did not produce albums in the modern sense, as he lived in an era long before recorded music, his compositions have been widely recorded and appreciated by classical musicians and are featured on various collections of Baroque organ music.