A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Schroeter, Leonard

SCHROETER, Leonard, born at Torgau towards the middle of the 16th century, became Cantor of the Cathedral of Magdeburg about 1564, in succession to Callus Dressler, also a composer of some importance. Schroeter's chief work is 'Hymni Sacri,' Erfurt, 1587, and consists of 4- and 5-part settings of those Latin Church Hymns which had also been received into the worship of the Lutheran Church. Winterfeld says of these hymns, that they belong to the best musical works of the time; the harmony is rich, clear, and dignified, and shows an unmistakeable advance on the path of the older masters. They are in the same style as the Hymns of Palestrina and Vittoria, only the choral melody is mostly given to the upper voice. Some of these hymns, as well as some of the German psalms of Gallus Dressler, Schroeter's predecessor, are re-published in Schöberlein and Riegel's 'Schatz des liturgischen Chorgesangs,' Gottingen, 1868–72. Four Weihnachts-Liedlein of Schroeter's are received into the repertoire of the Berlin Dom-Chor, and are published in Schlesinger's 'Musica Sacra,' No. 11. A German Te Deum for double choir by Schroeter, previously existing only in manuscript, has been printed by Otto Kade in the Noten-beilagen to Ambros's 'Gesch. der Musik,' No. 28.

[ J. R. M. ]