Schutz was born to a prominent bourgeois family of Franconian origin that had resided in Saxony since the mid-15th century. He was "born in the same year as Richelieu... [and was]...21 years younger than Shakespeare and 21 years older than Rembrandt"(SL&W 3). His paternal grandf

At the time he moved to Weissenfels, Christof already widowed and re-married to the daughter of the local Burgomaster, had fathered eight children in addition to the three left with him from his late wife. Of these new eight children, Heinrich was the second born and the eldest son. Christof would take over the keepings of the Inn and eventually purchase another while becoming a figure of incredible eminence and eventually the Burgomeister of Weissenfels.

In 1613 Heinrich returned to his home country of Germany and resumed his service to the Landgrave Moritz as an organist with an annual salary of 80 florins. While not earning the monetary gains expected from his father, he once again fell to the scrutiny of his family who urgently and inventively dissuaded his passion for music. He decided to once again attend the University studies of law that he once left behind, but no sooner had he made up his mind to return to the University than he decided to pursue his passion. A series of events including Johann George needing good musicians and requesting the services of Heinrich from the Landgrave, were decisive factors. Heinrich left to Dresden to attend the baptism of an elector's son in September 1614. Six months later, Johann wrote a letter to the Landgrave asking for the services of Heinrich for two more years until a suitable replacement could be found. Heinrich, with the favor of his elector reconciled with his parents and they seemed acceptable of the course that he seemed destined to pursue.

Upon his arrival back in Dresden, Heinrich found himself composing works in the new style for his electors daughter's wedding to the Duke Friedrich III of Holstein-Gottorf in February of 1630. A pay record of the period shows that apart from the advances he had received in Italy, he had been paid virtually no salary since 1628. In the autumn of the next year, more bereavement was given to Heinrich in the form of the deaths of his father and his late wife's father. Further financial angst was bestowed when Johann Georg committed his Saxon army to the ranks of the King Gustavus II Adolphus of Sweden. The expense of the Saxon army effort spelt the end of any hope of improvement in the Kapelle and the number of instrumentalists and singers declined drastically and musical activities in the court came nearly to a complete halt. "The Dresden court ensemble, which had counted thirty-nine musicians among it's members in 1632, had sunk to ten members by 1639"(L&DHS 5).

As a student at the Collegium, Heinrich, showed a particular talent for academia in all subject and excelled distinguishing himself from other students. He displayed a gifted aptitude for foreign languages, learning Latin, Greek and French in addition to his native tongue. His education in music came from the Landgrave's Kapellmeister, George Otto, whom Heinrich learned and developed a good foundation for counterpoint. There is no evidence supporting any theories that would have him learning any music skills beyond the basics that was taught him by the Kapellmeister. At the Collegium the "...landgrave impressed diligence on the students in their pursuit for music" (SL&W 42). As Heinrich grew older and his voice changed his services were no longer allowed in the boys choir, and at the age of sixteen he joined many of the older boys who, "...were expected to learn, besides their other school studies, instrumental music to perfection..."(SL&W 43). His talent grew as did he and soon he would leave the Collegium.

In Dresden he would appear to have begun once again to devote himself intensively to composition. Manuscript evidence and stylistic considerations suggest that his earliest surviving concerted poly-choral works all date from about 1616. Heinrich's stay in Dresden however, would be short, as the Landgrave would write to Johann and inform him that the services of Heinrich were needed with him and that he should rejoin the Landgrave at once.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Years' War, Johann George, Heinrich Schutz, Christoph Bernhard, Landgrave Moritz, Dresden Heinrich, Johann Georg, Kapellmeister Collegium, Six Johann, Venice Gaberili, johann georg, thirty years' war, thirty years', years' war, johann george, landgrave moritz, heinrich schutz, heinrich found, dresden heinrich, heinrich composed, georg ii, johann georg ii, johann george ii, death johann georg, heinrich found composing,
Approximate Word count = 4269
Approximate Pages = 17 (250 words per page double spaced)