Michael Praetorius (probably February 15, 1571 – February 15, 1621) was a German composer and writer on music. He was one of the most prolific and versatile composers of his time, and was particularly significant in the development of musical forms based on Protestant hymns.

He was born in Creuzburg and studied in Torgau, Frankfurt an der Oder and Zerbst. He was organist at the Marienkirche in Frankfurt before working at the court in Wolfenbüttel as organist and (from 1604) Kapellmeister. From 1613 to 1616 he worked at the Saxon court at Dresden, where he was exposed to the latest Italian music, including the polychoral works of the Venetian School. His subsequent development of the form of the chorale concerto, particularly the polychoral variety, resulted directly from his familiarity with the music of such Venetians as Giovanni Gabrieli.

He was a tremendously prolific composer, his works showing the influence of contemporaries Samuel Scheidt and Heinrich Schütz as well as the Italians. His works include the nine volume Musae sioniae (1605-10), a collection of over a thousand chorale and song arrangements; many other works for the Lutheran church; and a collection of instrumental dances, Terpsichore, his only surviving secular work. His three volume treatise Syntagma musicum (1614-20) is a detailed text on contemporary musical practices and musical instruments, and is an important document in musicology, organology and the field of authentic performance.

External link

• PDF files of some of Praetorius' music