Johannes von Soest

Who was Johannes von Soest?

Johannes Steinwert von Soest was a German composer, theorist and poet. Most biographical details about his life survive in Soest's rhymed autobiography. He was born in Unna and brought up in the nearby town of Soest. As a boy, he sang at St. Patrokli. At one point a juggler almost succeeded in kidnapping him for his beautiful voice, but the plan did not succeed. The boy eventually left Soest when John I, Duke of Cleves hired him as a singer.

At Cleves Soest studied composition with an unknown teacher, quickly distinguishing himself as the best student and becoming, in his own words, a better composer than his master. Soest's attitude changed when he heard two English singers who were travelling through Cleves; he persuaded them to teach him. They agreed to do so on the condition that he went to Bruges with them; accordingly, Soest somehow managed to get a permission to leave the Duke. He subsequently worked at Overijssel, Maastricht, and Kassel. In 1472 the 24-year old composer went to Heidelberg and made such an impression on the Elector that he was immediately offered a contract for life.

Although he had a large salary and a high reputation, by 1476 Soest was apparently no longer satisfied with his musical activities. That year he entered the University of Heidelberg to study medicine; after several years there and a period in Pavia, by 1490 at the latest, he received a degree. He became a municipal doctor in Worms in 1495, then worked in the same capacity in Oppenheim and Frankfurt. He died in 1506 in Frankfurt.