Sethus Calvisius

Sethus Calvisius, actually Seth Kalwitz ( born February 21, 1556 Gorsleben, † November 24, 1615 in Leipzig), was a composer, music theorist and cantor in Leipzig and Schulpforta and astronomer and mathematician.

Life

He grew up in modest circumstances in which the father in the country pursued as a day laborer 's livelihood, Calvisius should first learn the craft of weaving. However, his urge for education was so strong that he school in Frankenhausen and 1572 visited the school in 1569 in Magdeburg. In Magdeburg begged and he acquired the church service the financial means to accommodate a study.

He attended the University of Helmstedt from 1579 first, then received a scholarship to the Elector Augustus of Saxony and in 1580 went to the University of Leipzig. There he occupied himself with mathematics, chronology, astronomy, and so intense with the music that he was promoted the following year to the rector of the choir at St. Paul's Church.

On the recommendation of Nicholas Selneckers and the entire theological faculty of the University of Leipzig, he was appointed in November 1582 as a cantor by Schulpforta, where he introduced among other motets singing with the common meals. He also worked as a pedagogue, not only in the subject area of music, he also gave lessons in Latin and operational chronological - historical studies. 1594, he returned to Leipzig, where it the honorable office of the cantor of St. Thomas School and the two main churches was transferred.

Although him in 1611 a professorship in mathematics and at the University of Frankfurt / Oder was offered at the University of Wittenberg, also a professor, he remained in Leipzig, where he worked until his death. Except for some famous graduates, he also maintained friendly relations of his time, such as Johannes Kepler.

Also, as an astronomer, he made Major. His main work is the Opus Chronologicum ubi tempus astronomicum by motus et eclipses luminarium celestium. According to General German Biography (ADB ) ' him this work was a particularly the name of the principal German scholars. It was a fruit of 20 years of research, found the highest recognition of Scaliger, Casaubon and Petavius and was long regarded as a guideline for all similar work ".

In 1907, the Calvisiusstraße was named in the Lindenau district after Sethus Calvisius.

Works

Harmonia cantionum ecclesiasticarum, hymns and spiritual songs D. Lutheran and of other pious Christians, with 4 votes set contrapunkt partly true. Leipzig 1597, 1598, 1604, 1612 and 1622
Melopoiia immersive Melodiae condendae ratio. Erfurt in 1592 and 1630
Compendium musicae practicae. Leipzig in 1594 and in 1612 appeared as Musicae artis praecepta
Exercitatio musica tertia. Leipzig 1611
Exercitationes musicae duae. Leipzig 1600
Hymni sacri Latini et germanici. Erfurt 1594
The Psalter of David. edited by Cornelius Becker, Leipzig 1605
The 150th Psalm of David. Leipzig 1615
Opus chronologicum ex autoritate see scripturae ad motum luminarium Coelestium contextum. Leipzig in 1605 and last edition 1685 in Frankfurt sixth edition
Elenchus calendarii Gregoriani. Leipzig 1613
Formula calendarii novi. Leipzig 1613
Thesaurus latini sermonis. Leipzig 1614
Enchiridion lexici Latino germanici. Leipzig 1614
Tricinia, Exquisite German songs. edited by Paul Rubardt, 1949
10 motets, edited by Albrecht Tunger, 1965.
Biciniorum libri duo, Leipzig 1612

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