Samuel Scheidt was born in November of 1587 in Halle, Germany, the firstborn of Konrad Schiedt and Anna Achtmann. Scheidt’s earliest musical influences were the cantors Matthaeus Birkner and Georg Schetz, and when he was 17 years old he became the organist at the Moritzkirche in Halle. He had the opportunity to further his musical studies through a journey to Amsterdam, where he stayed two years to learn from Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562-1621).

Scheidt returned to Halle in 1609 to become the court organist of Margrave Christian Wilhelm of Brandenburg, a role that resulted in his lifelong involvement in the music of Halle. During this time in 1614, Samuel Scheidt met Michael Praetorius, who was given an honorary position in the court. In 1618 when there was a series of concerts in Magdeburg, Scheidt, Praetorius, and Heinrich Schütz were all present to provide music. Doubtless the music made from the collaboration of these three great Lutheran musicians was breathtaking. In 1627, during the Thirty Years’ War, Scheidt married Helena Magdalena Keller, and they had seven children, four of whom tragically died of the plague in 1636. Despite the ravages of war and disease, Scheidt continued to compose and teach, with Adam Krieger being a notable student of his. He died in Halle on Good Friday, March 24, 1654.