Who was Michael Praetorius?
Q: Who was Michael Praetorius?
A: Michael Praetorius was a German composer, organist and music theorist. He was one of the most important composers of his day and he wrote lots of different kinds of music. A lot of his music is based on hymns of the Protestant church.
Q: What is known about the date of his birth?
A: We are not quite certain about the date of his birth, but it is thought to have been 15 February 1571.
Q: What kind of education did Praetorius receive?
A: Praetorius went to the Lateinschule (“Latin School”) in Torgau where he had music lessons from Michael Voigt. He then went to the University of Frankfurt an der Oder, graduating in divinity.
Q: What job did he take after university?
A: After university, Praetorius found a job as organist to the Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and soon earned a good salary.
Q: Did he marry and have children?
A: Yes, Praetorius married in 1603 and had two sons.
Q: Where else did he work besides Wolfenbüttel?
A: Besides Wolfenbüttel, Praetorius also worked a lot in Dresden where he met Heinrich Schütz and in Magdeburg where he met Samuel Scheidt.
Q: Why might his health have been poor during this time period?
A: His health may have been poor due to working so hard for many years without taking breaks or vacations for rest or relaxation.
