The composer Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672) received his musical training through the patronage of Landgrave Moritz of Hessen-Kassel, who also financed Schütz while he studied music in Venice for three years. After his return from Italy, Schütz became court organist at the Saxon court of the Elector Johann Georg I in Dresden in 1614, where he later served as the court music director. He was responsible for both sacred music during church services and secular music at court, and thus significantly shaped the musical culture of Saxony. During his time at the Saxon court, Schütz undertook a study tour to Italy, whose composers at that time led musical development in Europe. Schütz is considered the most important composer of the German early Baroque. Here is an excerpt from his oratorio The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross, composed in 1645, during the Thirty Years’ War.