Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

January 1, 1652

Death

:

July 18, 1735

Period

:

Baroque

Genre

:

Keyboard

 

Johann Krieger was a German composer and organist who lived during the Baroque period. He was born on December 28, 1651, in Nuremberg, Germany, to a family of musicians. His father, Johann Krieger Sr., was a composer and organist, and his older brother, Johann Philipp Krieger, was also a composer and musician. Johann Krieger began his musical education under the tutelage of his father and brother. He showed great promise as a musician from a young age and quickly became proficient in playing the organ, harpsichord, and violin. He also received training in composition and music theory. In 1672, Johann Krieger was appointed as the court organist at Bayreuth, where he remained for two years. He then moved to Zeitz, where he served as the court organist and Kapellmeister for the Duke of Sachsen-Zeitz. During his time in Zeitz, Krieger composed a large number of works, including cantatas, sonatas, and keyboard music. In 1680, Johann Krieger moved to Weissenfels, where he served as the court organist and Kapellmeister for the Duke of Sachsen-Weissenfels. He remained in this position for the rest of his life, and it was during this time that he composed some of his most significant works. Johann Krieger was a prolific composer, and his works encompassed a wide range of genres, including sacred and secular vocal music, instrumental music, and keyboard music. He was particularly known for his keyboard music, which included suites, toccatas, and preludes. One of Krieger's most famous works is his collection of keyboard music titled "Anmuthige Clavier-Übung," which was published in 1697. This collection includes a variety of pieces, including suites, toccatas, and preludes, and is considered to be one of the most important collections of keyboard music from the Baroque period. In addition to his keyboard music, Johann Krieger also composed a significant amount of vocal music, including cantatas, motets, and oratorios. His sacred vocal music was particularly notable, and he was known for his use of expressive harmonies and intricate counterpoint. Johann Krieger's music was highly regarded during his lifetime, and he was considered to be one of the leading composers of his time. His works were widely performed throughout Germany, and he was known for his innovative use of harmony and counterpoint. Despite his success as a composer, Johann Krieger's personal life was marked by tragedy. He lost his wife and two of his children to the plague, and he himself suffered from poor health in his later years. Johann Krieger died on June 18, 1735, in Weissenfels, Germany, at the age of 83. He left behind a significant body of work that continues to be performed and studied today. His contributions to the development of Baroque music, particularly in the area of keyboard music, have earned him a place among the great composers of his time.

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