Johannes Crüger

Composer and theorist and the German singer who revivified the Protestant chorale. He composed a number of memorable hymn melodies most of which were published in "Praxis pietatis melica." This volume contains in excess of 200 texts and 100 melodies. Cruger arranged the melodies with a figured bass yielding both practical and artistic results. Its elegance was useful (artistically) for organ accompaniments and practical in the sense that it could easily be employed in German homes. The bounty of his compositions, after taking the cantor position at St. Nicholas (where he remained for the rest of his life) included motets, anthems, magnificats, concertos and theoreticl works. ~ Keith Johnson