Elias Nikolaus Ammerbach

Elias Nikolaus Ammerbach was a Renaissance organist and redactor not known for compositions. He invented an organ tablature which bears his name; his editions are the first printed German organ music. Ammerbach collected a number of works in 1571 ("Orgel oder Instrument Tabulatur") and organized the contents in a progressively more difficult fashion. (In 1583 he revised this compelation.) Pieces credited to his arrangements and tablature include sacred and secular songs as well as dances. The words for both genres of song came from the pen of various authors; the music is heavily decorated. ~ Keith Johnson