Schütz

Schütz is a German surname derived from Schutz, meaning “shield.” The umlaut over the u is often represented as “ue” in non-German texts, so the name may appear as Schutz as well. It is found among German-speaking populations and their descendants, and may also be encountered in various transliterations.

Notable individuals with the surname include Heinrich Schütz (1585–1672), a German composer of the early Baroque era. He is widely regarded as the most important German composer before Johann Sebastian Bach. Schütz studied in Venice with Giovanni Gabrieli and helped bring Italian polychoral and concertato techniques into German sacred music, contributing to the development of a distinctly German Baroque vocal style. He served as Kapellmeister at the Dresden court, directing the court chapel and composing extensively for sacred services. His best-known works include the Musikalische Exequien and the collection Symphoniae sacrae, which exemplify early Baroque sacred vocal music and the integration of Italian and German musical practices.

The surname Schütz is borne by numerous other people across fields such as arts, sciences, and sports, and in some records the umlaut may be omitted, yielding Schutz. The word itself also exists in German as a common noun meaning “shield,” separate from its use as a family name.

See also

Schutz (disambiguation)