Initially educated by his father, in 1640, he studied under Christian Gueintz at the Gymnasium in Halle.
From 1649 Schirmer worked as Hofdichter (court poet) at Dresden, and in 1650 his first collection of poetry was published.
Schirmer obtained musical settings for 68 of his poems from the Dresden court musician Philipp Stolle, and these were published in 1654 as the songbook Singende Rosen Oder Liebes-und Tugend-Lieder.
Stolle's settings were for soprano, theorbo or viola da gamba, and basso continuo.
His great skill in lyric love poetry and Lied (German song) verse owed something to the influences of Martin Opitz and Paul Fleming.