Thomas Stoltzer (1480?-1528?) was born in Schweidnitz, Silesia, now Poland. In 1522 Queen Maria of Hungary appointed him to lead the court music ensemble. He remained in this position only six years, however. In March 1528 he drowned in the river Taja after his horse misstepped, on the way from Buda to Prague.



His compositions include masses, motets, psalm settings, hymns and his instrumental work "Octo Tonorum Melodiae." As the composer of approximately 150 masses, hymns and songs he may be counted among the most significant German masters after 1500. From 1524 to 1528 he composed four great German psalm motets which had a strong influence on German composition of the Reformation.