Crüger, Johann

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Crüger, Johann

Crüger, Johann , noted German composer; b. Grossbreesen, near Guben, April 9, 1598; d. Berlin, Feb. 23, 1662. A student of divinity at Wittenberg in 1620, he had received thorough musical training at Regensburg under Paulus Homberger. He then traveled in Austria and Hungary. He spent some time in Bohemia and Saxony before settling in Berlin, where he was cantor at the Nicolaikirche from 1622 until his death. His fame rests on the composition of many fine chorales (Jesu, meine Freude; Jesu, meine Zuversicht; Nun danket alle Gott; et al.), which were orig. publ. in the collection Praxis pietatis melica (Berlin, 1644; reprinted in 45 eds. before 1736). In addition, he publ. the following collections: Neues völlkommliches Gesangbuch Augsburgischer Konfession… (1640), Geistliche Kirchenmelodeyen… (1649), Dr. M. Luthers wie auch andrer gottseliger christlicher Leute Geistliche Lieder und Psalmen (1657), and Psalmodia sacra… (1658). He also publ the valuable theoretical works Synopsis musica (1630; enl. 1634), Praecepta musicae figuralis (1625), and Quaestiones musicae practicae (1650).

Bibliography

E. Langbecker, /. C.s Choral-Melodien (Berlin, 1835); J. Hoffrneister, Der Kantor zu St. Nicolai: Beschreibung des Lebens von J. C. (Berlin, 1964).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire