Arnolt Schlick

This German organist and organ expert was far traveled throughout Germany and the Low Countries.

He probably came from Heidelberg, played for Maximilian I's election, traveled to the Netherlands, Strasbourg, Worms, Hagebau, Speyer, Torgau, Neustadt an der Haardt, and possibly Aachen. On most of these travels he was being consulted about organs, the building of the organs, repairs, improvements and placements thereof. During these travels he also received a lifetime appointment through the palatine court. Three important works were produced and published by this talented contrapuntist who was blind. First was his "Spiegel der Orgelmacher und Organisten" of 1511 which was the first published German discourse on organ building and organ playing. Schlick next published some of his own works in the "Tabulaturen etlicher lobgesang" which was the first German publication of organ tablatures. This was published in 1512. His chorale, "Ascendo ad Patrem" (1520/21) was scored for ten parts and according to Schlick could be performed on the organ, six parts on the manuals and four parts on the pedals. This music is not only unique but far ahead of its time in contrapuntal skills preceding any thing comparable by decades and clearly demarcates Schlick as a keen contrapuntal artist and organist. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi