Apelles von Löwenstern, Matthäus 04/20/1594 - 04/11/1648

Matthäus Apelt, also Matthew Appel, Matthew Apelles (Löw) von Löwenstern (*April 20, 1594, Neustadt, Heritage Duchy of Opole, Poland – †11 April 1648, Breslau, Poland), was a German composer and poet. Apelt was the son of a saddler. In 1613 he was teacher and cantor in Leobschütz, Poland. He was appointed by Duke Heinrich Wenzel to Bernstadt, Germany in 1625, where he ascended to the Office Secretary in 1631. In 1635 he was appointed Royal Oelsschen Treasurer and Court Music Director. He was already ennobled by Emperor Ferdinand in 1634 as Matthew Apelles von Löwenstern. in 1639 he was appointed to the Imperial Council in Wrocław, Poland where he worked until the end of his life. As a musician, Matthäus Apelt used the Italian concertante style. He created spiritual songs,, several motets, sacred concertos and other works, which were very popular at the time.

For the opera "Judith" by Heinrich Schütz (lyrics by Martin Opitz) he created a choir for tenors and basses with continuo under the pseudonym "Matthaeo Leonastro de Longueville".

The following hymns derived from him: "Herr, unser Gott, laß nicht zuschanden werden", ("Lord, Our God never come to naught"), (Protestant Hymnal/EG 247; melody for the song)
"Nun preiset alle Gottes Barmherzigkeit" ("Now Praise all of God's Mercy" ) (Evangelisches Gesangbuch (Protestant Hymnal) 502; lyrics and melody for the song)