Meinrad Spiess (1683-1761) was a German composer. Born the son of a farmer in Honsolgen, Germany, he was baptized Matthäus. He was a student at the Benedictine monastery of Irsee, where he entered the novitiate in 1702 and in 1702 took his vows, after his first musical studies. Thereafter he undertook a philosophical and theological program of study, culminating in 1707 with his entry into the priesthood.
Because of his extraordinary musical gifts Father Meinrad (his Benedictine name) was allowed a three-year stay in Munich from 1709-1712. There he experienced decisive musical influences as a student of the electoral court kapellmeister Giuseppe Antonio Bernabei (1649-1732) at the court of Max II Emanuel.
After his return Spiess was, from 1713 until about 1750, responsible for the musical side of the liturgy and for festive occasions in the Irsee monastery. Dating from this time are his extant compositions as well as the method book “Tractatus Musicus Compositorio - Practicus” (Augsburg 1745), which made him famous as a music pedagogue far beyond the boundaries of his musical activities. Within his order he was the prior of the monastery and was respected as an organ and carillon expert in the region; the disposition of the mostly preserved Irsee monastery organ of Balthasar Freiwiss(Aitrang) of 1749/50 owes much to him.
