Samuel Capricornus

Biography

Samuel Friedrich Capricornus (born Samuel Friedrich Bockshorn; 21 December 1628 – 10 November 1665) was a composer of the Baroque period from Bohemia.

Life

Samuel Friedrich Capricornus was born on 21 December 1628 in Žerčice. Capricornus' father was a Protestant minister, who fled with his family for fear of the Counter-Reformation to Bratislava in the then Kingdom of Hungary. After completing high school in Sopron, he studied languages and theology in Silesia before becoming a musician at the imperial court in Vienna. Here, he became acquainted with the music of Giovanni Valentini and Antonio Bertali. After a short stay in Reutlingen he worked for two years as a private music teacher in Bratislava and then from 1651 to 1657 he was active as a music director in various churches and as a music teacher at a high school there.
In May 1657 he became Kapellmeister in Stuttgart and soon became engaged in a bitter dispute with the organist of the collegiate church, Philipp Friedrich Böddecker, who had himself coveted the position, and his brother David, a cornetto player. Already in September 1657, David Böddecker had complained about a "high and difficult piece" which he had been asked to play by Capricornus and that he also had to play the "Quart-Zink" (a small, high pitched cornetto) and sing, which were not part of his job requirements. In his defense against these allegations, Capricornus complained about the unruliness, and the "gluttony and drunkenness" of the musicians in the kapell, also saying the cornetto players played their instruments like a cow horn.
Capricornus remained in this post until his death in 1665. He died on 10 November 1665 in Stuttgart, at the age of 36.

Works (selection)

Verzeichnis der erhaltenen Werke von Samuel Capricornus CWV Cornetto-Verlag 2016

Published works

Opus musicum, Christoff Gerhard, Nürnberg 1655 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (facsimile)
Geistliche Concerten, Endter, Nürnberg 1658 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (facsimile)
Erster Theil Geistlicher Harmonien, Johann Weyrich Rösslin, Stuttgart 1659
Ander Theil Geistlicher Harmonien, Johann Weyrich Rösslin, Stuttgart 1660
Das ist meine Freude, Berliner Chormusik-Verlag/Edition Musica Rinata, Ditzingen 2000
Ich habe den Herrn, Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart 2004
Sonaten und Canzonen mit 3. Instrumenten, Author & Christoph Gerhard, Nürnberg 1660
'Zwey Lieder von dem Leyden und Sterben Jesu for 2 sopranos, 4 viols (ad lib.) and b.c., Christoff Gerhard, Nürnberg 1660 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (facsimile). First edition available at IMSLP.
Ein Lämmlein
O Traurigkeit!
Jubilus Bernhardi for SSATB, 4 Viols and B.c., Endter, Nürnberg 1660 ; Strube Verlag, Berlin 2003. First edition available at IMSLP.
Jesus dulcis memoria
Jesu spes poenitentibus
Jesu dulcedo Cordium
Jesum quaeram in lectulo
Cum Maria Diluculo
Jesu Rex admirabilis
Mane nobiscum Domine
Amor Jesu dulcissimus
Jesum omnes agnoscite
Jesus autor clementiae
Jesus mi bone sentiam
Tua Jesu dilectio
Jesu Decus Angelicum
Amor tuus continuus
Jesu summa benignitas
O Jesu mi dulcissime
Jesus cum sic diligitur
O beatum incendium
Jesu Flos matris Virginis
Jesu sole serenior
Mi dilecte reverete
Coeli cives occurrite
Rex virtutum
Jesus in pace imperat
Geistliche Harmonien Teil 3
Dritter Theil Geistlicher Harmonien, Johann Weyrich Rösslin, Stuttgart 1664
Es stehe Gott auf, Edition Musica Rinata, Ditzingen 2002
Ich bin schwarz, aber gar lieblich, Carus-Verlag, Leinfelden-Echterdingen 1998
Ich weiss, dass der Herr Gott ist, Edition Musica Rinata, Ditzingen 2000
Singet Gott, lobsinget seinem Namen, Edition Musica Rinata, Ditzingen 2003
Geistlicher Concerten ander Theil, Stuttgart 1665 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (facsimile)
Also hat Gott
Ich halte es dafür
Selig ist der Mann
Ihr Lieben
Ich freue mich
Herr! warumb trittest
Kommt her zu mir
Daran ist erschienen
Gott hat uns nicht gesetzt
Unser Wandel
Ich bin der Weg
Es hat kein Aug
Theatrum musicum, Bencard, Würzburg 1669 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (facsimile)
Continutiatio theatri musici, Bencard, Würzburg 1669. First edition available at IMSLP.
Jesu benigne
Omnis caro foenum
O jesu summa charitas
Judicium Salomonis
Domine labia me
Adesto mutitudo
Salvum me fac Deus
Laudate pueri
Scelta musicale, Ammon, Frankfurt 1669 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (facsimile). First edition available at IMSLP.
Jesu nostra Redemptio
Adeste omnes fideles, Edition Musica Poetica, St. Peter-Ording 2008
Surrexit pastor bonus, Edition Musica Poetica, St. Peter-Ording 2008
Laudate Dominum
Bonum est confiteri
Laetare in Domino
Opus aureum missarum, Bencard, Frankfurt 1670 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (facsimile). First edition available at IMSLP.
Missa primi Toni à 6
Missa secundi Toni à 10
Kyrie & Gloria tertii Toni à 12
Kyrie & Gloria quarti Toni à 6
Tafelmusik, Bencard, Frankfurt 1670 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (facsimile and modern edition)
Continuatio der Tafelmusik 1671 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (facsimile and modern edition)
Prothimia Suavissima 1672. The entire collection was published as a work by Bertali, however several Sonatas in part two are known to be by Capricornus.

Other works

Audio Domini Deus meus, Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart 2008
Beati immaculati in via, Manuscript, 1690 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart 2008
Ciacona for violin, viola da gamba and B.c., in Partiturbuch Ludwig, Manuscript 1662 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart 2006
Deus docuisti me, Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart 2003
Jauchzet dem Herrn, Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart 2004
Magnificat for voices (SSATB), 2 violins and b.c.
Mass in F for SATB, 2 violins and B.c., Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart 2003
Quae fata spes vè fingo?, Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart
Quis dabit capiti meo aquam, Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart 2008
Raptus Proserpinae, Opera, Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (facsimile of libretto)
Sonata in E minor for violin and b.c. Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (modern edition)
Sonata à 8 in A minor for 3 violins, 2 violas, 2 violas da gamba, viola di basso and b.c., Manuscript 1667
Willkommen, edles Knäblein, Edition Musica Rinata, Ditzingen 2000

Recordings

Jesu nostra Redemptio (from Scelta musicale), Hana Blažíková, CordArte, Pan Classics (CD, 2013).
Theatrum Musicum & Leçons de Ténèbres, Benoit Haller, La Chapelle Rhénane, K617 (CD, 2016).
Dulcis amor, Jesu (from Geistliche Harmonien, III, 1664) Harry van der Kamp, Laurie Reviol. Ensemble Tirami Su, Challenge Classics (CD, 2002)
Theatrum Musicum, Martin Gester, Le Parlement De Musique, Opus 111 (CD, 1994)