Hans Christoph Haiden (Hanns Christoff, Hanß, Christoph; Heyden, Heiden, Hayden, Heyd), (* baptized February 14, 1572 Nuremberg, † February 9, 1617 Nuremberg) was a German composer, organist, organ expert and lyricist. Nothing has been handed down to us about Hans Christoph's childhood, youth and education. In 1591 he became organist at the Spitalkirche in Nuremberg. In 1596 he became organist at St. Sebaldus. Due to incidents that didn't conform to the (among other things sexual) morals of Nuremberg, he lost his position in 1616. Later he was appointed treasurer by the bishop of Eichstätt and Bamberg. However, he only held this position for a few weeks. He died in early 1617 and was buried in Nuremberg on February 9th. Hans Christoph left his wife Anna Maria a mountain of debts. She was forced to sell a house and the remaining printed works of her husband.
Hans Christoph Haiden left us two printed works: In 1601, the printer Paul Kauffmann published "Gantz neue lustige Täntz und Liedlein'' whose text is partly focused on names,with four voices not only for singing but also for all kinds of instruments" in Nuremberg. In 1614, "Postiglion der Lieb" was published by the same printer: Therein, "Gantz neue lustige Täntz'', the text of which is partly focused on names: besides several intrados and other cheerful songs with drowsy tunes: not to sing alone but to employ all kinds of instruments, composed with four voices. Both prints contain simple but cleanly set homophonic and homorhythmic dance pieces for four voices SATB. These movements are not intended to be artistic, they are rather ''utility music''' in the best sense.
