ALBERT, HEINRICH

born July 8, 1604, Lobenstein, Saxony died Oct. 6, 1651, Knigsberg, Prussia [now Kaliningrad, Russia] German composer of a famous and popular collection of 170 songs, the most representative examples of German Baroque solo song. Albert studied composition with his cousin Heinrich Schtz at Dresden. While he attended the University of Leipzig his musical activities were encouraged by Johann Hermann Schein. In 1631 he became cathedral organist at Knigsberg. His Arien (163850), published in eight volumes, are generally strophic settings for one or more voices and continuo, with texts by his friend Simon Dach, himself, and other contemporary poets. The songs are also important for the study of basso continuo performance practice, for some of the continuo parts are realized in score notation. He also composed a canata and several motets.