Samuel Friedrich Capricornus, born Samuel Friedrich Bockshorn (21 December 1628 Žerčice near Mladá Boleslav - 10 November 1665 Stuttgart) was a Czech composer of the baroque period.
Capricornus' father was a Protestant minister, who fled with his family for fear of the Counter-Reformation to Bratislava in the former Kingdom of Hungary. After completing high school in Sopron, he studied languages and theology in Silesia before becoming a musician at the imperial court in Vienna. Here, he became acquainted with the music of Giovanni Valentini and Antonio Bertali. After a short stay in Reutlingen he worked for two years as a private music teacher in Bratislava and then from 1651 to 1657 he was active as a music director in various churches and as a music teacher at a high school there.
In May 1657 he became Kapellmeister in Stuttgart and soon became engaged in a bitter dispute with the organist of the collegiate church, Philipp Friedrich Böddecker, who had himself coveted the position and his brother David, a cornetto player. Already in September 1657, David Böddecker had complained about a "high and difficult piece" which he had been asked to play by Capricornus and that he also had to play the "Quart-Zink" (a small, high pitched cornetto) and sing, which were not part of his job requirements. In his defense against these allegations, Capricornus complained about the unruliness, and the "gluttony and drunkenness" of the musicians in the kapell, also saying the cornetto players played their instruments like a cow horn.
Capricornus remained in this post until his death in 1665.
Verzeichnis der erhaltenen Werke von Samuel Capricornus CWV Cornetto-Verlag 2016
Opus musicum, Christoff Gerhard, Nürnberg 1655 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (facsimile)Geistliche Concerten, Endter, Nürnberg 1658 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (facsimile)Erster Theil Geistlicher Harmonien, Johann Weyrich Rösslin, Stuttgart 1659Ander Theil Geistlicher Harmonien, Johann Weyrich Rösslin, Stuttgart 1660Das ist meine Freude, Berliner Chormusik-Verlag/Edition Musica Rinata, Ditzingen 2000Ich habe den Herrn, Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart 2004Sonaten und Canzonen mit 3. Instrumenten, Author & Christoph Gerhard, Nürnberg 1660Zwey Lieder von dem Leyden und Sterben Jesu for 2 sopranos, 4 viols (ad lib.) and b.c., Christoff Gerhard, Nürnberg 1660 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (facsimile). First edition available at IMSLP.Ein LämmleinO Traurigkeit!Jubilus Bernhardi for SSATB, 4 Viols and B.c., Endter, Nürnberg 1660 ; Strube Verlag, Berlin 2003. First edition available at IMSLP.Jesus dulcis memoriaJesu spes poenitentibusJesu dulcedo CordiumJesum quaeram in lectuloCum Maria DiluculoJesu Rex admirabilisMane nobiscum DomineAmor Jesu dulcissimusJesum omnes agnosciteJesus autor clementiaeJesus mi bone sentiamTua Jesu dilectioJesu Decus AngelicumAmor tuus continuusJesu summa benignitasO Jesu mi dulcissimeJesus cum sic diligiturO beatum incendiumJesu Flos matris VirginisJesu sole sereniorMi dilecte revereteCoeli cives occurriteRex virtutumJesus in pace imperatGeistliche Harmonien Teil 3Dritter Theil Geistlicher Harmonien, Johann Weyrich Rösslin, Stuttgart 1664Es stehe Gott auf, Edition Musica Rinata, Ditzingen 2002Ich bin schwarz, aber gar lieblich, Carus-Verlag, Leinfelden-Echterdingen 1998Ich weiss, dass der Herr Gott ist, Edition Musica Rinata, Ditzingen 2000Singet Gott, lobsinget seinem Namen, Edition Musica Rinata, Ditzingen 2003Geistlicher Concerten ander Theil, Stuttgart 1665 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (facsimile)Also hat GottIch halte es dafürSelig ist der MannIhr LiebenIch freue michHerr! warumb trittestKommt her zu mirDaran ist erschienenGott hat uns nicht gesetztUnser WandelIch bin der WegEs hat kein AugTheatrum musicum, Bencard, Würzburg 1669 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (facsimile)Continutiatio theatri musici, Bencard, Würzburg 1669. First edition available at IMSLP.Jesu benigneOmnis caro foenumO jesu summa charitasJudicium SalomonisDomine labia meAdesto mutitudoSalvum me fac DeusLaudate pueriScelta musicale, Ammon, Frankfurt 1669 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (facsimile). First edition available at IMSLP.Jesu nostra RedemptioAdeste omnes fideles, Edition Musica Poetica, St. Peter-Ording 2008Surrexit pastor bonus, Edition Musica Poetica, St. Peter-Ording 2008Laudate DominumBonum est confiteriLaetare in DominoOpus aureum missarum, Bencard, Frankfurt 1670 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (facsimile). First edition available at IMSLP.Missa primi Toni à 6Missa secundi Toni à 10Kyrie & Gloria tertii Toni à 12Kyrie & Gloria quarti Toni à 6Tafelmusik, Bencard, Frankfurt 1670 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (facsimile and modern edition)Continuatio der Tafelmusik 1671 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (facsimile and modern edition)Prothimia Suavissima 1672. The entire collection was published as a work by Bertali, however several Sonatas in part two are known to be by Capricornus.Audio Domini Deus meus, Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart 2008Beati immaculati in via, Manuscript, 1690 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart 2008Ciacona for violin, viola da gamba and B.c., in Partiturbuch Ludwig, Manuscript 1662 ; Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart 2006Deus docuisti me, Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart 2003Jauchzet dem Herrn, Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart 2004Magnificat for voices (SSATB), 2 violins and b.c.Mass in F for SATB, 2 violins and B.c., Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart 2003Quae fata spes vè fingo?, Cornetto-Verlag, StuttgartQuis dabit capiti meo aquam, Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart 2008Raptus Proserpinae, Opera, Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (facsimile of libretto)Sonata in E minor for violin and b.c. Cornetto-Verlag, Stuttgart (modern edition)Sonata à 8 in A minor for 3 violins, 2 violas, 2 violas da gamba, viola di basso and b.c., Manuscript 1667Willkommen, edles Knäblein, Edition Musica Rinata, Ditzingen 2000Jesu nostra Redemptio (from Scelta musicale), Hana Blažíková, CordArte, Pan Classics (CD, 2013).Theatrum Musicum & Leçons de Ténèbres, Benoit Haller, La Chapelle Rhénane, K617 (CD, 2016).Dulcis amor, Jesu (from Geistliche Harmonien, III, 1664) Harry van der Kamp, Laurie Reviol. Ensemble Tirami Su, Challenge Classics (CD, 2002)Theatrum Musicum, Martin Gester, Le Parlement De Musique, Opus 111 (CD, 1994)