Stamps series "Musicians Anniversaries, Schütz – Bach – Händel Festival"

1573. - 350th Anniversary of the birth of Heinrich Schutz. Heinrich Schütz: Born at Köstrich near Gera, 4th October 1585. As a boy he was a gifted soprano and 20th April 1599 he entered the court chapel choir of the Landgraf of Hesse. In 1608 he entered Marburg University to study law, but left the university to study music under Giovanni Gabrieli in Venice. In 1612 he went to Kassel as an organist. In 1617 the Elector of Saxony made him Master of Music of the court chapel at Dresden, a position he held for the remainder of his life. He married in 1619, had two daughters. His early compositions date from this period. He laid the foundations of German Church music that paved the way for Bach. His most famous composition being "Matthäuspassion". He also composed the first German opera which had its premiere on the occasion of the marriage of the Landgraf of Hesse at Torgau. Schütz died at Dresden, 6th November 1672.

1574. - 250th Anniversary of the birth of Johann Sebastian Bach. Johann Sebastian Bach born at Eisenach, 21st March 1685. At the age of nine he became an orphan and was looked after by an older brother. At the age of fifteen he left this mean household and walked to Luneberg where he completed his studies. In 1707 he became an organist in Mülhausen and began composing his church cantatas. From 1717 to 1723 he was Court Musician at Cothen and here he produced his main instrumental works including the famous "Brandenburg Concerto". In 1723 he became Director of Church Music in the Thomasschule in Leipzig and began composing his major compositions. He married twice with seven children by his first wife and thirteen by his second; only nine of these outlived him. He became totally blind in the last three years of his life but still continued composing music. His most famous works were his "Passion Music" and his "Preludes and Fugues". Of the 210 Cantatas he composed, two thirds of them are still played. He was an organist of outstanding ability and is looked upon as the "Father of German Church Music". He died of apoplexy in Leipzig, 28th July 1750.

1575. - 250th Anniversary of the birth of Georg Frederick Handel. Georg Frederick Handel born at Halle / Saale, 23rd February 1685.He became organist at Halle Cathedral in 1702; studying law at the same time at Halle University. At Hamburg, 8th January 1805, his first opera "Almira" was performed with great success. The following year he went to Italy where he wrote two operas, two oratorios and much choral music. He returned in 1709 to become Master of Court Music to the Elector of Hannover. In 1702 he went to London and in 1712 began to compose for Queen Anne. His absence without leave caused an awkward situation when the Elector of Hannover became George I. However, Händel was pardoned and given a yearly salary. From 1720 he composed a string of operas. He was naturalised in 1726 and afterwards produced a long series of oratorios including "The Messiah". He became blind in 1752 and died in London 14th April 1759.