Leonhard Päminger

From the age of ten this Austrian composer received his education in Vienna and held a station as a bass at St. Stephen's where he learned the art of composition on his own. Paminger was a schoolmaster and a Rektor of St. Nikola's. He held this position until 1557 when he was demoted to a secretary for maintaining Lutheran beliefs; nevertheless, Paminger remained at St. Nikola's until his death. As one of the most important early Lutheran composers he compiled four volumes of hymns published after his death: over six hundred. Some of his works were included in French and German anthologies showing his international notoriety. ~ Keith Johnson