Christian Ritter

This German organist and composer was in service in Halle and Dresden but spent a great deal of time in Stockholm with the Swedish court. Reports indicate that he was organist, Hofkapelle and Kapellmeister at various times in Stockholm. Ritter may have been taught or influenced by Schutz and Bernhard as all indications show that he came from this school of musicians. The vocal works which Ritter scored were motets diverse in form and filled with sound. Texts were mixed and the motets were mostly arioso-like. Two keyboard works survive, and with the vocal music, indicate that Ritter broke from the tradition of Schutz thus having an impact on German Protestant church music prior to the age of Bach. ~ Keith Johnson