Short bio Samuel Capricornus
Birthday:
1628 in Zercice, Czech Republic
Died:
1665 in Stuttgart, Germany
Genre:
Classical
Period:
Baroque
Full biography Samuel Capricornus
Samuel Capricornus was a Baroque composer born in 1628 in Żagań, Poland. His real name was Samuel Friedrich Bockshorn and he was also known by the names Samuel Friedrich Capricornus and Samuel Friederich Capricornus.
Capricornus' father was an organist and his mother was a singer, so he grew up in a family of musicians. He received his early education in music from his father and later continued his studies with Georg Böhm, a prominent organist and composer at the time.
Capricornus' music is characterized by its harmonic complexity, contrapuntal style, and use of dissonance. He composed mainly sacred music, including motets, masses, and oratorios, but also wrote some secular works, such as dance suites and instrumental pieces.
Capricornus' most famous work is his 1670 Christmas Oratorio, titled "Jesu, deine Geburt," which tells the story of the Nativity through a series of musical meditations on the main events of the story. The work is notable for its use of musical symbolism to convey the spiritual meanings of the text.
Capricornus died in 1665 at the age of 37 while serving as the court composer for the Duke of Württemberg. Despite his short life, he left behind a significant body of work that helped to shape the Baroque music of his time.
Compositions featuring Samuel Capricornus
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sonata à 3, for 2 violins, viola da gamba & continuo (No. 4 from "Prothimia suavissima...", Book 2) (prev. attrib. to A. Bertali) | 5:02 min | Chamber Music | 1672 |
| 2 | Dulcis amor, Jesu (Geistliche Harmonien, iii, 1664) | 5:48 min | Choral | 1664 |
| 3 | Jubilus Bernhardi, 24 sacred concertos for soloists, chorus, 4 violas da gamba & continuo | 109:49 min | Choral | 1660 |
| 4 | Surrexit pastor bonus, cantata for soprano, violin & continuo | 4:13 min | Vocal Music | 16?? |
| 5 | Ciaconna for violin, viola da gamba & continuo in D major | 3:53 min | Chamber Music | 16?? |
| 6 | Salve Jesu (Hail to thee, Jesus, thou the supreme good), for voice, viola da gamba, theorbo & continuo | 7:14 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 7 | O felix jucunditas, scene for alto, tenor, bass, 4 violas da gamba & continuo (No. 7 from "Theatrum Musicum") | 3:30 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 8 | O quam gloriosum est regnum, scene for alto, tenor, bass, 4 violas da gamba & continuo (No. 9 from "Theatrum Musicum") | 4:03 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 9 | O quanti labores, for chorus & organ | 6:30 min | Choral | - |
| 10 | O Taurigkeit! (O Sadness), for 2 voices & instrumental ensemble | 8:58 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 11 | O tu vita felicissima, scene for alto, tenor, bass, 4 violas da gamba & continuo (No. 2 from "Theatrum Musicum") | 4:30 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 12 | Magnificat | 4:45 min | Choral | - |
| 13 | Per belli potatores, for chorus & organ | 4:40 min | Choral | - |
| 14 | Protector in te sperantium Deus, scene for alto, tenor, bass, 4 violas da gamba & continuo (No. 12 from "Theatrum Musicum") | 4:40 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 15 | Protector Omnium Sperantium (O Lord, protector of those that believe in Thee), for 3 voices & instrumental ensemble | 4:44 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 16 | Quis Dabit Capiti Meo Aquam (Who shall give to my head the water), for 3 voices & instrumental ensemble | 6:48 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 17 | Salvum me fac, psalm for bass, 2 violins, 3 viols & continuo (Uppsala Universitet, Düben Collection, VMHS 045:017) | 7:53 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 18 | Sonata à 8 in A minor | 5:03 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 19 | Sonata for violin, 4 violas da gamba & continuo in E minor | 5:44 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 20 | Sonata à 3 No. 1, for ensemble | 5:06 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 21 | Sonata à 3 No. 2, for ensemble | 5:46 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 22 | Sonata à 3 No. 3, for ensemble | 7:50 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 23 | Sonata à 3 No. 4, for ensemble | 4:08 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 24 | Sonata à 3 No. 5, for ensemble | 5:31 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 25 | Sonata à 3 No. 6, for ensemble | 3:09 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 26 | Dulcissime, amantissime, scene for alto, tenor, bass, 4 violas da gamba & continuo (No. 1 from "Theatrum Musicum") | 7:33 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 27 | Bartholomäus, for chorus & organ | 2:38 min | Choral | - |
| 28 | Bonum Est Confiteri Domino (It's good to put one's trust in the Lord), for voice & instrumental ensemble | 7:14 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 29 | Castiri pom, for chorus & organ | 3:59 min | Choral | - |
| 30 | Cupido, for chorus & organ | 5:47 min | Choral | - |
| 31 | Da mihi, Domine Deus meus, scene for alto, tenor, bass, 4 violas da gamba & continuo (No. 8 from "Theatrum Musicum") | 4:30 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 32 | Deus docuisti me, for 2 voices, trombone, bassoon & continuo | 9:44 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 33 | Die schöne Venus, for chorus & organ | 9:45 min | Choral | - |
| 34 | Dixi Domino, for voice, violin, bassoon & continuo | 6:48 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 35 | Dixit Dominus | 3:51 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 36 | Domine Jesu Christe | 4:52 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 37 | O Amor (O love that burns without end), for 2 voices & instrumental ensemble | 7:17 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 38 | Gaudens gaudebo in Domino, for bass, violin, bassoon & continuo | 10:43 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 39 | Ich hab den Herrn allezeit für Augen, for 2 voices, 2 violins & continuo (Geistliche Harmonien) | 4:56 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 40 | Ihr freundlichen Blicke, for chorus & organ | 4:29 min | Choral | - |
| 41 | Jauchzet dem Herrn alle Welt, for 2 voices, violin, viola da gamba & continuo | 9:18 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 42 | Jesu Nostra Redemptio (Jesus, our redeemer), for voice, viola da gamba & continuo | 11:41 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 43 | Justorum Animae | 2:36 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 44 | Laetare Jerusalem in Domino, for voice, violin, trombone (or viola da gamba) & continuo | 6:33 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 45 | Lieder (2) von dem Leyden und Tode Jesu, for 2 sopranos, 4 violas da gamba & continuo | 34:48 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 46 | Adeste Omnes Fideles (Come, all ye faithful), for voice & instrumental ensemble | 5:11 min | Vocal Music | - |
Albums featuring Samuel Capricornus
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Samuel Capricornus - Ensemble Inégal / Adam Viktora – Samuel Capricornus(CD, ) | 2021 | Nibiru |
| 2 |  |
Samuel Capricornus, Capricornus Ensemble Stuttgart, Henning Wiegräbe – Jauchzet Dem Herrn Alle Welt(CD, ) | 2017 | Coviello Classics |
| 3 |  |
Samuel Capricornus, The Bach Choir Of Holy Trinity & Acronym (2), Donald Meineke – The Jubilus Bernhardi Collection(2×CD, Album) | 2017 | Olde Focus Recordings |
| 4 |  |
Samuel Capricornus • I. E. Kindermann - Susan Eitrich, Ulrich Maier (2), Lukas Barock Ensemble Stuttgart – Geistliche Konzerte - Violinsonaten(CD, Album) | 2015 | Cornetto |
| 5 |  |
Samuel Capricornus - Long & Away, Sarah Mead – Geistliche Konzerte Für Sänger Und Violen Da Gamba(CD, ) | 2015 | Cornetto |
| 6 |  |
Samuel Capricornus – I Capricorni, Cantobaleno Quartett – Taffel - Lustmusic(CD, ) | 2010 | Cornetto |
| 7 |  |
Samuel Capricornus, Benoit Haller, La Chapelle Rhénane – Theatrum Musicum & Leçons De Ténèbres | 2006 | K617 |
| 8 |  |
Buxtehude, Daniel Purcell, Telemann, Handel, Vivaldi, Capricornus, Merula – Linda Perillo, Walter Reiter, Cordaria – Un'Alma Innamorata - A Soul In Love(CD, ) | 2002 | Signum Records |
| 9 |  |
Samuel Capricornus, Le Parlement De Musique, Martin Gester – Theatrum Musicum(CD, Album, Stereo) | 1994 | Opus 111 |
| 10 |  |
Samuel Capricornus / Prague Madrigal Singers – Opus Musicum - A Selection | 1987 | Opus |
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