PRAETORIUS (SCHULTHEISS), MICHAEL

(15 February ? 1571, Creuzburg an der Werra near Eisenach, Germany – 15 February 1621, Wolfenbüttel)

Appointedorganistto Duke Heinrich Julius of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel in 1595, and courtKapellmeisterin 1604. Except for the years 1613–1617 spent in Dresden serving the Elector Johann Georg, Praetorius remained in Wolfenbüttel until his death.

He composed over 1,000 sacred works, mostly based onLutheran choralesor setting the Latin prayers of the Lutheranmass. Many of his settings are in common use today. In the first phase of composi-tion, he publishedMotectae etPsalmi(1602), Latinmotetsthat explored thestile antico. Next he systematically compiled and arranged all the Lutheran chorales required for the liturgical year in the ninepart {}Musae Sionae(1605–1610). He includedhymnsarranged for two to four choirs inUrania(1613), andcanonsare prominent in {}Hymnodia Sionae(1611), which also includes fourorganpieces withcantus firmus. Last, he exploited theoperaticelements newly imported from Italy inPolyhymnia Caduceatrix(1619).

See alsoCori Spezzati.