PRAETORIUS, Michael
b near Eisenach, 15 February 1571
d Wolfenbuttel, 15 February 1621, aged fifty

In 1582 he matriculated at the University of Frankfurt, and in 1587 he was appointed as organist of St Marien in Frankfurt, remaining until 1590, his name becoming famous among the Lutherans there. In 1604 he became Kapellmeister. Most of his collections of music appeared between 1605 and 1613. From 1613 to 1616 he was Kapellmeister at Dresden, thereafter receiving an honorarium from Dresden for the rest of his life. As an organiser of musical events he travelled widely, mainly in Germany He became a rich man, but died of ill-health due to over-work. He was a devout Christian and most of his works were sacred vocal ones.