Decker, Joachim 1565 - 03/15/1611

Joachim Decker (* c. 1565 in Hamburg; † March 15, 1611 in Hamburg), a German composer and organist was born around 1565 as the son of Eberhard Decker, cantor at the Johanneum in Hamburg. It is assumed that his father taught him music. In 1596 he took over the organist position at the Nikolai Church until his death.

In 1604 Decker published the "Melodeyen Gesangbuch" together with Hieronymus Praetorius, his son Jacob Praetorius and David Scheidemann who were all organists at the other main churches in Hamburg. It contains 88 four part movements of church songs, 29 of which were by Decker. They are mostly simple and lead the main voice in treble (soprano).