Löwenstern: Matthäus Apelles v. L. was born on April 20, 1594, in Polnisch-Neustadt in the Principality of Opole and died at the age of 54 in Breslau on April 11, 1648, as State Councillor to Duke Carl Friedrich von Münsterberg in Oels. He was the son of a saddler, but had made a name for himself early on through his musical talents; in 1625, he was rentmaster and director of music in Bernstadt, in 1626, he became head of the princely school there and in 1631, princely councillor and chamber director. Emperor Ferdinand III ennobled him and he subsequently became a councillor of state.