Staden, Johann

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Staden, Johann

Staden, Johann, eminent German organist and composer, father of Sigmund Theophil Staden; b. Nuremberg (baptized), July 2, 1581; d. there (buried), Nov. 15, 1634. He spent most of his life in his native city, winning particular distinction as an organist by the time he was 18. After serving as court organist in Bayreuth (1604–05), he went with the court to Kulmbach following a disastrous fire; returned to Nuremberg as organist at the Spitalkirche (1616), St. Lorenz (1616–18), and St. Sebald (from 1618). He also was active as a teacher, Kindermann being his most celebrated pupil. Only about half of Staden’s extant output has survived in complete form; these include distinguished sacred and secular vocal works as well as instrumental pieces. He was one of Germany’s first exponents of the concertato style.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire