Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Germany

Birth

:

May 27, 1584 in Alach, Germany

Death

:

February 12, 1640 in Erfurt, Germany

Period

:

Baroque

Genre

:

Choral

 

Michael Altenburg was a German composer and musician who lived during the 16th and 17th centuries. He was born in 1584 in Alach, a small town in Thuringia, Germany. His father was a musician and taught him how to play the organ and other instruments at a young age. Altenburg showed a great talent for music and began composing his own pieces when he was just a teenager. Altenburg studied music at the University of Jena and later became the organist at St. Blasius Church in Mühlhausen. He also worked as a court musician for the Duke of Saxe-Weimar and the Elector of Saxony. During his time as a court musician, Altenburg composed many pieces for various instruments, including the organ, trumpet, and violin. One of Altenburg's most famous works is his collection of chorale preludes for organ, which he published in 1614. These pieces were based on hymns and were meant to be played before or after church services. Altenburg's chorale preludes were highly regarded by his contemporaries and are still performed today. In addition to his work as a composer, Altenburg was also a music theorist. He wrote several treatises on music, including "Musica Figuralis" and "Musica Mechanica Organoedum." These works explored the mathematical and theoretical aspects of music and were highly influential in the development of music theory during the Baroque period. Altenburg's music was characterized by its intricate counterpoint and use of chromaticism. He was also known for his use of the trumpet, which he often used to create a grand and majestic sound in his compositions. His music was highly regarded by his contemporaries and was influential in the development of Baroque music. Despite his success as a composer and musician, Altenburg's life was not without its challenges. He lived during a time of great political and religious upheaval in Germany, and his music was often caught up in these conflicts. He was a Lutheran, but his music was sometimes criticized by more conservative members of the church for being too secular. Despite these challenges, Altenburg continued to compose and perform throughout his life. He died in 1640 in Erfurt, Germany, at the age of 56. Today, he is remembered as one of the most important composers of the Baroque period and his music continues to be performed and studied by musicians and music scholars around the world.

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