heinrich heine | en

Born c 1620/3, little is known about Johann Heinrich Schmelzer before 1649 when he became an employee at the Imperial Chapel in Vienna. Schmelzer remained in the service of the Imperial Court until 1680 when the Court evacuated to Prague to avoid the plague. Unfortunately, Schmelzer fell victim to the disease. Schmelzer's greatest contributions were to the development of the Sonata and Suite forms. His pupils include Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber and Johann Jakob Walther. .

Carl Heinrich Graun (7 May 1704 – 8 August 1759) was a German composer and tenor singer. Along with Johann Adolf Hasse, he is considered to be the most important German composer of Italian opera of his time. Graun was born in Wahrenbrück in Brandenburg. He sang in the chorus of the Dresden opera before moving to Braunschweig, singing there and writing six operas for the company. In 1735 Graun moved to Rheinsberg, after he had written an opera for the crown prince, when marrying Elisabeth Christine in Salzdahlum. He was kapellmeister to Frederick II of Prussia (Frederick the Great)...

Heinrich Scheidemann (c. 1595 – 1663) was a German organist and composer. He was the best-known composer for the organ in north Germany in the early to mid-17th century, and was an important forerunner of Dieterich Buxtehude and J.S. Bach. He was born in Wöhrden in Holstein. His father was an organist in both Wöhrden and Hamburg, and probably Scheidemann received some early instruction from him. Scheidemann studied with Sweelinck in Amsterdam from 1611 to 1614, and evidently was one of his favorite pupils, since Sweelinck dedicated a motet to him at the end of the time, prior to Scheidemann's...

Long known for his virtuosity as a fingerstyle guitarist, Danny Heines has been a major force in pioneering the rhythmically propelled technique of "tapping" on acoustic guitar. His multi-layered compositions and uniquely percussive solo pieces are rooted in a strong melodic sense and performed with awe-inspiring articulation. In addition to his work as a guitarist Danny is among a handful of westerners adept in the art of throat singing, a technique producing two notes simultaneously, wherein the overtones of the voice are manipulated to create melodies while holding a single pitch. Danny's strong passion for world music can be felt...