Heinrich Schütz is the most important composer in the early Baroque period and the most important German composer up until the time of J.S. Bach. He is the first to command the respect of other composers on an international level and to achieve international acclaim. Through the example of his works and teachings, he played an important part in establishing the traditions of high craftsmanship and intellectual depth in music. There is some debate, among scholars, as to when exactly Heinrich Schütz was born. In a personal memorandum "...of January 14, 1651, to Elector Johann I, [Schütz] mentions the day of St. Burkhard as his birthday" (SL&W22). However, it is recorded in the towns, as well as church history, that he was born in Köstritz, Germany, now Bad Köstritz near Gera, on October 8th, 1585 and baptized the next day October 9th. As there are records of this, it seems even more likely that these records are more accurate than the memorandum.
             Schütz 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 grandfather, Albrecht Schütz, owned a local Inn that was eventually left to his son, Heinrich's father, Christof. Albrecht would move away to Weissenfels, where he would become a prominent and esteemed Council chamberlain in Weissenfels. Albrecht would acquire another Inn, "Zur güldenen Ring"(SL&W 21), which he would leave to his son at the time of his death in 1578.
             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 ...