Krieger, Johann Philipp 02/26/1649 - 02/06/1725

Johann Philipp Krieger (1649-1725) was born and began his musical studies in Nürnberg, modern-day Germany. At the age of between 14 and 16 he moved to Copenhagen to study with the royal Danish organist Johannes Schröder and with K. Förster. He financed his education with a position as organist at the German church of St. Peter there.



Around 1667 he was invited to Christiania, Norway for a position as organist, which he refused because he wanted to return to Nürnberg. When he returned to Nürnberg in 1670, however, all musical positions were filled. He then went to Zeitz and then to Bayreuth. Count Christian Ernst gave him a stipend to study for two years in Italy. There he studied with Rosenmüller and Rovettini in Venice and with Abbatini and Pasquini in Rome.



After short stays in Frankfurt and Kassel he was appointed chamber musician and chamber organist in Halle. Duke Johann Adolph I moved his court from Halle to Weißenfels and appointed Krieger Kapellmeister. At the Weißenfels palace church he performed over 2000 of his own and 200 of his brother Johann's works.



He is considered the most significant composer of the generation before Bach. His use of French and Italian forms and techniques were important for the further development of music in Germany.