Johann Crüger (April 9, 1598 ? February 23, 1662) was a German composer of well-known hymns.
Crüger was born in Groß Breesen near Guben as the son of an innkeeper. He studied at the Lateinschule in Guben until 1613, after which he traveled to Sorau and Breslau and finally to Regensburg, where he received his first musical training from Paulus Homberger. In 1615 he traveled to Berlin, where he studied theology at the gymnasium Zum Grauen Kloster. From 1620 he studied theology at the University of Wittenberg and trained himself further in music through private study. From 1622 to his death, a period of 40 years, he was simultaneously a teacher at gymnasium Zum Grauen Kloster and cantor of the Nikolaikirche in Berlin.
Crüger composed numerous concert works and wrote extensively on music education. In 1643 he became acquainted with the famous hymn writer Paul Gerhardt, for whom he wrote the music for various hymns. In 1647 he edited the most important German Lutheran hymnal of the 17th century, Praxis pietatis melica. Text source : Wikipedia (Hide extended text) ... (Read all)
