Johann Praetorius

Johann Praetorius (also Johannes; 25 November 159525 July 1660) was a German Baroque composer and organist, and the son of Hieronymus Praetorius the Elder (15601629). His grandfather, the father of Hieronymus, Jacob Praetorius the Elder, and his older brother Jacob Praetorius (15861651) were also composers. His twin brother Hieronymus Praetorius the Younger (15951651) was a theologian.

Biography Johann Praetorius was born on 25 November 1595 in Hamburg. From 1611, he was organist and church clerk at St.-Nikolai-Kirche in Hamburg, a position he held until his death. He was also an organist at Old St. Michael's Church and at the Cloister of St. Mary Magdalene.

In 1619, he married Anna Sperling, the daughter of , headteacher of the Johanneum Gymnasium. They had two children: Hieronymus (b. 1620) and Elisabeth (b.1622).

Praetorius died on 25 July 1660 in Hamburg. which are his only clearly identified printed music. The Berlin State Library holds handwritten transcriptions of three of these: Dulcis amica veni à 6 (n.d.), O pulcherrima inter mulieres à 6 (1635), and Felix cui divum à 8 (1619).

Musicologist has reassigned 14 chorale settings and two psalm arrangements for organ to Johann Praetorius. These works, signed with the initials J. P., J. P. S., and Johann Peters, were previously attributed to Praetorius's teacher, Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck. It includes most of the works listed above, plus:

Christe, qui lux es et dies Jesus Christus, unser Heiland Mein junges Leben hat ein End Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein Gott, du unser Vater bist