A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Calvisius, Seth

by George Grove

CALVISIUS, Seth, musician, astronomer, and chronologer, born at Gorschleben in Thuringia, Feb. 21, 1556, of very poor parents. The name is a refinement of Kallwitz. His poverty interfered greatly with his education, but he contrived to attend the Magdeburg Gymnasium, and the Universities of Helmstedt and Leipsic, and to avail himself of every opportunity of musical instruction. In 1580 he was made music director at the Pauliner Church, Leipsic, in 82 Cantor at Schulpforte, and in 94 Cantor and Schulcollege at the St. Thomas-school, and music director at the St. Thomas church of Leipsic. For music he gave up much—for instance, the chair of mathematics at Wittenberg, offered him in 1611. He died in Leipsic on Nov. 24, 1615. His treatises are 'Melopeia …" (Erfurt, 1582), 'Compendium musicæ practicæ …' (Leipsic, 1594), 'Musicæ artis præcepta …' (Leipsic, 1612; ed. 3 of the 'Compendium'), 'Exercitationes musicæ duæ …' (Leipsic, 1600 and 1611). His music, original and edited, comprises 'Harmonia cantionum, a M. Luthero … compositarum' (Leipsic, 1596), 'Biciniorum libri duo …'(Do. 1590 and 1612), 'Teutsche Tricinia …' (Do. 1603), 'Der 150 Psalm für 12 Stimmen …' (Do. 1615), 'Der Psalter Davids …' (Do. 1617). Many motets and hymns are in MS. in the Library of the Thomas-school.

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